head to head
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Breakout Monster Hunter where learning each beast's moveset turns terror into routine.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
An immersive-sim RPG demanding intricate build optimisation and resource management aboard a hostile alien-infested starship.
Monster Hunter: World leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); System Shock 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Monster Hunter: World leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Monster Hunter: World
Deliberate weapon timing against huge movesets
System Shock 2
Weapon degradation and limited stats moderate the raw aim ceiling
Monster Hunter: World leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Monster Hunter: World
Monsters are learnable scripts, never adaptive
System Shock 2
All enemies are scripted with fixed patrol and attack routines
System Shock 2 leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Monster Hunter: World
Decoration drops are notorious RNG
System Shock 2
Random loot locations and psi powers introduce run-to-run variance
System Shock 2 leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Monster Hunter: World
Knowing the monster and building counters is the game
System Shock 2
Deep build tree and resource conservation define the entire skill ceiling
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.