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

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Precisely timing simultaneous character actions to execute optimal stealth routes through fixed guard patterns.

Optimization · Practiced Mastery
Choosing between three distinct playstyle routes through consistent guard layouts for optimal SMI scores.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Splinter Cell: Blacklist leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Precise timing windows on simultaneous multi-character abilities matter
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Mark-and-execute and fast takedowns raise the physical ceiling
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Guard patrol routes are fixed; no opponent models you
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Enemies react on scripted alert logic, not player-specific profiling
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Guard cone randomness is minimal once patterns are learned
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Patrol density and item placement are consistent across runs
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Route planning and ability combo sequencing reduce to near-perfect solutions
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
SMI scoring system incentivises optimal ghost, panther, or assault routing
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.