Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling fascinating player statistics, offering a glimpse into player preferences and in-game choices. The data reveals a diverse range of gameplay experiences, from romantic entanglements to bizarre encounters and epic achievements.
Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms
The stats highlight the importance of romance in players' journeys. A staggering 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart leading the pack at 27 million. Astarion followed with 15 million, while Minthara received 169,937. Act 1's celebratory night saw 32.5% of players with Shadowheart, 13.5% with Karlach, and 15.6% choosing solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued, with 48.8% experiencing her final romance scene.
For those seeking less conventional romances, 658,000 players pursued Halsin, with 70% opting for his human form and 30% his bear form. Remarkably, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with a preference for the Dream Guardian form (63%) over the mind flayer tentacle option (37%).
Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices
Beyond romance, players embraced the game's lighter side. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, a testament to the game's humorous elements. Friendly dinosaurs received 3.5 million visits, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge showed a softer side, with at least 3,777 players finding a way to spare Alfira.
Animal companions also garnered significant attention. Scratch the dog received over 120 million pets, while the Owlbear Cub received over 41 million. A curious 141,600 players attempted to pet the Emperor's cat – the same number who conquered Honour Mode.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
An overwhelming 93% of players created custom characters, demonstrating a desire for personalized heroes. Among pre-made characters, Astarion was the most popular (1.21 million players), followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.
Paladin was the most chosen class (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by Sorcerer and Fighter (over 7.5 million each). Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had substantial representation.
Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (12.5 million each). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million selections.
Specific class-race combinations also emerged. Dwarves favored Paladin (20%), Dragonborn preferred Sorcerer, Halflings leaned towards Bard and Rogue, Gnomes favored Bards and Druids, and Tieflings chose Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.
Epic Feats and Diverse Endings
141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. Of those defeated, 76% deleted their saves, while 24% continued in custom mode.
Players made significant choices in the game's narrative. 1.8 million betrayed the Emperor, 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killed the Netherbrain (with 200,000 involving Gale's sacrifice). A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.
The statistics paint a vivid picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaged player base. From romantic choices to humorous escapades and challenging battles, the game's anniversary stats highlight the unique and memorable journeys undertaken by millions of players.
