I can only afford the time to play one of them, which one should I play?
Many YouTubers seem to prefer BotW. But most reviews say TotK improves nearly everything.
I prefer easier combat and less complexity. Is there one that would be more enjoyable for me?
Play BotW first. A few years down the line, if you ever want more and are able to make time for it, play TotK. One should not play them back to back anyway.