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

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing a fascinating collection of player statistics, offering a glimpse into player preferences and in-game choices. The data reveals a diverse range of playstyles, from romantic entanglements to bizarre encounters.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

The statistics highlight the importance of romance 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 with Shadowheart, 13.5% with Karlach, and 15.6% choosing solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued (48.8% experienced her final romance scene), while 17.6% romanced Karlach, and 12.9% shared a tender moment with Lae'zel.

A more adventurous 658,000 players pursued romance with 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 experience.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Quests

Beyond the epic battles and major plot points, players engaged in numerous humorous activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received 3.5 million visits, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for unusual side quests. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, leading to an unexpected increase in lute rock within the game.

Animal companions also played a significant role. Scratch, the loyal canine, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetching skills. 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 an unexpected parallel.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

Despite the appeal of pre-made characters, a remarkable 93% of players created custom avatars, emphasizing the desire for personalized heroes. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) were the most popular choices. Intriguingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the enigmatic Dark Urge.

The Paladin class was the most popular, chosen by nearly 10 million players. The Sorcerer and Fighter classes followed closely, each exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had substantial representation. Rangers and Clerics had lower numbers, with Rangers chosen by 5 million and Clerics by fewer than 5 million players.

Racial choices were equally diverse, with Elves leading at over 12.5 million selections. Half-Elves and Humans followed closely, each with 12.5 million players. Tieflings exceeded 10 million, followed by Drow and Dragonborn (both over 7.5 million). Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves each had over 2.5 million selections, while Gnomes and Halflings had fewer than 2.5 million each. Specific class-race combinations also emerged, such as Dwarves favoring Paladins and Dragonborn leaning towards Sorcerers.

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 faced significant narrative choices. 1.8 million betrayed the Emperor, while 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer. 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.

The anniversary statistics paint a vivid picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaging community. From grand achievements to humorous side quests, the players' journeys have been remarkably varied and memorable.