Building comparison
head to head
Super Mario Bros.vsSuper Mario World
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Super Mario Bros.
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Pure jump timing over fully fixed, memorisable levels.
Super Mario World
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Precise jump execution across fixed levels with secrets to memorise.
Super Mario Bros. leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Super Mario World leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Super Mario Bros.Super Mario World
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 7
Super Mario Bros. leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Super Mario Bros.
Perfect inputs trivialise momentum jumps over fixed hazards
Super Mario World
Perfect inputs trivialise every jump, spin and cape flight
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Super Mario Bros.
Goombas walk left forever - nothing to predict
Super Mario World
Scripted Koopas adapt to nothing
Variance0 vs 1
Super Mario World leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Super Mario Bros.
Every level is identical on every run
Super Mario World
Levels are fixed; nothing hidden survives one playthrough
Optimization5 vs 4
Super Mario Bros. leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Super Mario Bros.
Level memorisation and warp routing are fully solvable
Super Mario World
Secret exits and route knowledge add a modest solvable layer
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.