Building comparison
head to head
Need for Speed: The RunvsSuper Mario Odyssey
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Need for Speed: The Run
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Reflex-driven point-to-point racing through heavily scripted setpieces.
Super Mario Odyssey
Execution · Pure Mechanics
A 3D platformer whose joy lives in tight movement and capture-driven traversal.
Need for Speed: The Run leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Super Mario Odyssey leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Need for Speed: The RunSuper Mario Odyssey
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
Super Mario Odyssey leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Need for Speed: The Run
Reaction driving through traffic and setpieces is the test
Super Mario Odyssey
Precise platforming and capture-move tech ceiling.
Reads1 vs 0
Need for Speed: The Run leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Need for Speed: The Run
Rivals rubber-band on scripts, nothing to out-think
Super Mario Odyssey
No adaptive opponents whatsoever.
Variance2 vs 1
Need for Speed: The Run leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Need for Speed: The Run
Scripted events surprise once, then are known
Super Mario Odyssey
Almost no randomness in level design.
Optimization4 vs 5
Super Mario Odyssey leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Need for Speed: The Run
Checkpoint routes and car choice are quickly solved
Super Mario Odyssey
Moon routes and movement tech learnable.
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.