Building comparison
head to head
New Super Mario Bros. UvsSonic the Hedgehog 3
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Execution · Practiced Mastery
The most demanding of the New Super Mario line, with brutal optional challenges.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Execution · Practiced Mastery
Momentum-driven execution over fixed levels rewarding memorised routes.
New Super Mario Bros. U leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Sonic the Hedgehog 3 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
New Super Mario Bros. USonic the Hedgehog 3
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Challenge modes demand tight, precise platforming
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Holding speed through fixed hazards demands sharp reactions
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
All enemy behavior is scripted
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Badniks and bosses repeat identical scripts
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Deterministic level layouts
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Levels never change between runs
Optimization5 vs 5
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Routing star coins and secret world shortcuts
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Route choice and emerald collection reward memorised play
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.