Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling fascinating player statistics, offering a unique insight into player preferences and in-game choices. The data reveals a diverse range of gameplay styles, from romantic entanglements to humorous side quests.
Romantic Encounters in the Forgotten Realms
Larian's Twitter (X) post showcased a wealth of romantic data. Over 75 million kisses were exchanged between players and companions, with Shadowheart receiving the most (27 million), followed by Astarion (15 million) and Minthara (169,937). Act 1's celebratory night saw Shadowheart as the most popular companion (32.5%), while 13.5% chose Karlach, and 15.6% opted for solitude. Shadowheart's popularity continued into Act 3, with 48.8% of players experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.
A significant 658,000 players pursued romance with Halsin, with 70% choosing his human form and 30% his bear form. Intriguingly, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with 63% preferring the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacle experience.
Whimsical Adventures and Companion Interactions
Beyond romance, players indulged in various amusing activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, highlighting the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs were visited by 3.5 million players, while 2 million freed Us from the Colony, showcasing a fondness for quirky side quests. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 players playing as the Dark Urge found a way to spare Alfira, unexpectedly boosting lute rock's popularity.
Animal companions were also heavily interacted with. Scratch the dog received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetch skills, while the Owlbear Cub garnered over 41 million. A curious 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat—the same number who conquered Honour Mode, adding an unexpected statistical parallel.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
Despite the game's compelling pre-made characters, an impressive 93% of players opted to create custom avatars. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) proved most popular, followed closely by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge, reflecting players' fascination with the character's mysterious backstory.
Paladin emerged as the most chosen class (nearly 10 million players), followed by Sorcerer and Fighter (both over 7.5 million). Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid also had notable representation, though fewer than 7.5 million players chose each. Rangers and Clerics trailed behind, with less than 5 million players selecting each.
Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (both 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million selections each. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common but still notable, with over 2.5 million players each. Gnomes and Halflings had the fewest selections, each under 2.5 million. Specific class-race combinations also revealed interesting trends, reflecting players' choices based on character synergy and lore.
Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices
141,660 players successfully completed Honour Mode, a testament to their skill. Conversely, 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat, with 76% of defeated players deleting their saves and 24% continuing in custom mode.
Players faced significant narrative choices. 1.8 million betrayed the Emperor, while 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer. A substantial 3.3 million players chose to kill the Netherbrain, with 200,000 involving Gale's self-sacrifice. A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.
In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics paint a comprehensive picture of the game's diverse and engaging community, highlighting both impressive feats and humorous interactions within the Forgotten Realms.