BG3 Stats Show Players Got Frisky with the Emperor, Turned into Cheese and More

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling a fascinating collection of player statistics, offering a unique window into player preferences and in-game choices. The data reveals a diverse range of playstyles, from romantic entanglements to humorous misadventures. Let's delve into the numbers and uncover the community's captivating journey.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

The statistics showcase romance as a central element of many players' experiences. A staggering 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart emerging as the most popular romantic interest (27 million kisses), 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 remained strong, with 48.8% of players experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.

For those seeking less conventional romances, 658,000 players pursued Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. Furthermore, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacles.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Side Quests

Beyond the epic battles and crucial decisions, players indulged in plenty of lighthearted activities. A surprising 1.9 million players transformed themselves into cheese wheels, a testament to the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs welcomed 3.5 million visitors, while 2 million players successfully freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for the game's quirky side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their villainous tendencies, saw 3,777 players spare Alfira, leading to an unexpected surge in lute rock within the game.

Animal companions also played a crucial role. Scratch, the loyal canine companion, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetch skills. The Owlbear Cub wasn't far behind, accumulating over 41 million pets. Interestingly, 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the feline companion—the exact same number who conquered Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

Despite the compelling pre-made characters, an impressive 93% of players opted to create custom avatars, highlighting the desire for personalized heroes. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) proved most popular. The enigmatic Dark Urge inspired 15% of custom character creations.

The Paladin class emerged as the most favored, with almost 10 million players choosing this path. The Sorcerer and Fighter classes followed closely, each exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, such as Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had significant representation, though none reached the 7.5 million mark. Rangers and Clerics trailed behind, with less than 5 million players each.

Racial choices were equally diverse, with Elves leading the way (over 12.5 million), followed by Humans and Half-Elves (both at 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million choices. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less prevalent, each with over 2.5 million selections. Gnomes and Halflings had the fewest choices, each below 2.5 million. Specific class-race combinations also emerged as player favorites, revealing interesting correlations between character traits and class selection.

Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices

Baldur's Gate 3 presented players with numerous challenging feats and moral dilemmas. A remarkable 141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, a testament to their exceptional skill. Conversely, 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat, underscoring the game's challenging nature. Of those defeated, 76% deleted their saves, while 24% continued in custom mode.

Players faced significant narrative choices. 1.8 million players 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 and poignant outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.

The anniversary statistics paint a vivid portrait of the Baldur's Gate 3 community, showcasing the diverse ways players interacted with the game. From monumental achievements to whimsical moments, the journey through the Forgotten Realms has been truly extraordinary.