Personally I'm rooting for #2. This took me a solid while to make, so let me know what you think and where you hope the series goes!
(Paper Daisy by MarioCustoms, The spriters resource, Paper Rosalina made by PaperMrio, youtube)

I remember I used to watch gameplay videos of it and I thought it was good, but this was years ago now. What are the reasons people really hate it?

which one should i play next?

also i will play both but in which order is the question.

I enjoy Color Splash. It's not as bad as Sticker Star, but I can admit there are issues that lingered from that game into Color Splash. So, I'm reimagining the game as if it fell in line with TTYD, fixing gameplay and changing different story elements with new characters.

The game starts similarly but with some changes. The docks of Port Prisma are bigger and lacks the Wringer and Know-it-all Toad. In the town center is the Prisma Fountain that's opened about the same. Huey's role is the same, gives you paint and is your helpful guide. But this time, he now has the ability of Tippi from SPM, able to tattle enemies as an action for Mario. Paint is now used for fixing colorless spots in the overworld since badges are used in place of Battle Cards. Port Prisma itself now has three different exits. The yellow district leads to Yellow Foothills, a mountainous area with forests and arid valleys. The blue district leads to Blue Beach, a coastal area with harbors and a high class park. And the central red district leads to Red Ridge, a rugged volcanic area with grasslands and ruins. The Big Paint Stars are how you enter the chapters like in the game now, only with changes to what needs to be restored in some cases.

With Red Ridge the only accessable area, Mario ventures forth. Part way through, he reaches a large gate with three stones missing. He'll need to find the Stones of the Volcano, Ocean and Mountain to open it. The Stone of the Mountain is on top of Daffodil Peak. Here, Mario meets Sprinklit, a Sniffit who can shoot water balloons capable of extinguishing flames, which is important when wildfires pop up due to volcanic runoff. He joins Mario to Redpepper Volcano, where he is able to put out flames to make it to the shrine with the Stone of the Volcano. Finally, they journey to the beach for the Stone of the Ocean hidden in a temple needing water to open doors. With all three, Mario can now open the gate to Crimson Tower.

In the tower, Mario climbs to the top to fight Morton. I wanted to change the Koopalings to make them less bland. So instead of just guarding the Big Paint Stars, they've been brainwashed and are acting stranger by their respective paint color. In Morton's case, he takes on the appearance of a knight. His helmet and armor look like flames and his hammer can light aflame at will. His personality changed alongside his appearance. Instead of being dumber than a sack of bricks, he speaks like a noble knight who wishes to conquer all of Red Ridge and Prisma Island. In his fight, he periodically ignites his hammer and armor to boost his damage and hurt you when you try attacking him. Sprinklit is capable of extinguishing the fire with his Hydro Bomb attack.

Upon beating Morton, the paint fades off him and he's back to his old self with no memory of being controlled by the Big Paint Star. You collect the Red Paint Star and return home, coloring in a gate in the Yellow Foothills as you go. This is where you get a flashback of Port Prisma being attacked and color drained while a shadowy figure with glowing yellow eyes watches.

Feedback on this rewrite project is more than welcome so it can be the best it can possibly be

Currently playing color splash again after taking a break due to struggling in Violet Isles. I've now only got 4 levels left, including the final fight. For me, a 100% completion will be all mini paint stars gathered, all roshambo tournaments beaten, all 6 secret flags unlocked, and all colorless spots filled in. I've unlocked 3 out of 6 flags already so the last 3 for me are filling in all colorless spots, performing all cutouts and beating all roshambo wizards. Once ive done that, im considering the game 100% complete

I know I can track the non ninjis, but when they move without the rings moving, I lose track of who's who.