Building comparison
head to head
Metroid II: Return of SamusvsSteamWorld Dig 2
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The Game Boy expedition that turns Metroid into a methodical extermination checklist deep inside SR388.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
A mining metroidvania about digging efficient tunnels, hauling ore, and compounding upgrades.
Metroid II: Return of Samus leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SteamWorld Dig 2 leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Metroid II: Return of SamusSteamWorld Dig 2
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
SteamWorld Dig 2 leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Cramped Game Boy combat against Metroid forms.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Light platforming and digging dexterity
Reads0 vs 1
SteamWorld Dig 2 leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Creatures follow fixed behaviours.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Scripted enemies only
Variance2 vs 2
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Disorienting unknown caverns until mapped.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Procedural ore pockets add mild run-to-run unknowns
Optimization7 vs 7
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Hunting all 39 Metroids is methodical route work.
SteamWorld Dig 2
Dig routing, resource economy, and upgrade ordering are the game
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.