Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing a captivating collection of player statistics, revealing fascinating insights into player preferences and in-game choices. These stats, shared on X (formerly Twitter), offer a glimpse into the diverse ways players have experienced the Forgotten Realms.
Romantic Encounters in the Forgotten Realms
The statistics highlight the significant role romance played in many players' journeys. A staggering 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart receiving the most (27 million), followed by Astarion (15 million) and Minthara (169,937). Act 1's celebratory night saw 32.5% of players choosing Shadowheart, 13.5% opting for Karlach, and 15.6% choosing solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued, with 48.8% experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.
A more adventurous 658,000 players engaged in romantic encounters with Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. Furthermore, 1.1 million players pursued intimacy with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacle experience.
Whimsical Adventures and Unconventional Choices
Beyond the epic battles and crucial decisions, players engaged in numerous lighthearted activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received visits from 3.5 million players, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for quirky side quests. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 players, even Dark Urge players, found a way to spare Alfira, inadvertently contributing to the game's lute rock soundtrack.
Animal companions also played a significant role. Scratch, the loyal canine, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetching abilities. The Owlbear Cub garnered over 41 million pets. Interestingly, 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat—the same number who conquered Honour Mode, adding a quirky parallel.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
A remarkable 93% of players opted to create custom characters, demonstrating a strong desire for personalized heroes. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) was the most popular, followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Intriguingly, 15% of custom avatars were based on the enigmatic Dark Urge.
Paladin was the most popular 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, though fewer than 7.5 million players. Rangers and Clerics had the lowest numbers.
Elves were the most chosen race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (12.5 million each). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million choices. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common, but still significant (over 2.5 million each). Gnomes and Halflings had the lowest numbers. Specific class-race combinations also emerged, reflecting player preferences and character synergy.
Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices
141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, showcasing exceptional skill. Conversely, 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat, with 76% of players deleting their saves and 24% continuing in custom mode.
Players made 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 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 by Vlaakith.
Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics reveal a vibrant and diverse community, showcasing the breadth of player experiences, from momentous achievements to lighthearted escapades. The journey through the Forgotten Realms has been remarkably varied and engaging.
