head to head
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.

Execution · Practiced Mastery
Colour-matching gunplay and platforming over a companion-build system.

Execution · Practiced Mastery
A bite-sized 3D Mario that compresses Galaxy-style level design into linear handheld courses.
ReCore leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Super Mario 3D Land leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
ReCore
Colour-matched shooting and dash-platforming need moderate aim
Super Mario 3D Land
3D jumps and special-world remixes need clean control
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
ReCore
Robotic enemies follow fixed behaviour loops
Super Mario 3D Land
Scripted enemies and bosses only
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
ReCore
Dungeons and spawns are static
Super Mario 3D Land
Star coin locations hidden on first pass
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
ReCore
Core swapping, companion builds and collectible routing reward planning
Super Mario 3D Land
Star coin collection and power-up management are solvable
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.