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 styles, from romantic entanglements to bizarre encounters.
Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms
The stats 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% Karlach, and 15.6% opting for solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity persisted, with 48.8% experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.
More adventurous players engaged in intimate encounters with Halsin (658,000), with a preference for his human form (70%). A surprising 1.1 million players romanced the Emperor, favoring the Dream Guardian form (63%).
Whimsical Adventures and Unexpected Encounters
Beyond romance, players engaged in numerous quirky activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, while 3.5 million befriended dinosaurs. 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, showcasing a fondness for unconventional quests. Remarkably, 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, leading to an increase in lute rock.
Animal companions were also heavily interacted with. Scratch the dog received over 120 million pets, while the Owlbear Cub garnered over 41 million. A curious 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat – the same number that conquered Honour Mode.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
A significant 93% of players created custom characters, highlighting the game's robust character customization. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) were the most popular. Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.
The Paladin class was the most chosen (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by Sorcerer and Fighter (both over 7.5 million). Other classes had considerable representation, though fewer than 7.5 million players.
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. Other races, including Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves, had a smaller but still significant following. Specific class-race combinations revealed interesting player preferences, such as Dwarves favoring Paladins and Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers.
Epic Achievements 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 impactful choices, with 1.8 million betraying the Emperor, 329,000 convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killing the Netherbrain (200,000 with Gale's sacrifice). A unique outcome saw 34 players experience Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.
These statistics paint a vivid picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaged community, showcasing the wide range of experiences within the Forgotten Realms.
