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 · Pure Optimization
A tower-defense game mixing snowball action with scripted-wave strategy.

Optimization · Pure Optimization
Side-on turn-based tactics where you manually aim ricocheting bullets for a steambot pirate crew.
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); SteamWorld Heist leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
SteamWorld Heist leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
Snowball aiming adds light action demands
SteamWorld Heist
Manual aim and ricochet shots reward steady hands
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
Enemy waves are scripted, no adaptive opponent
SteamWorld Heist
Enemy bots follow fixed behaviors
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
Wave order unknown first time, then fixed
SteamWorld Heist
Procedural ship layouts and loot drops
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play!
Tower placement and resource management solve each map
SteamWorld Heist
Crew builds, weapon picks, and turn routing carry runs
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.