Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing fascinating player statistic data on Twitter (X). These figures illuminate player preferences, choices, and overall gameplay experiences, showcasing the diverse ways players have interacted with the Forgotten Realms.
Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms
The statistics reveal romance was a significant aspect of 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 to sleep alone. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued (48.8% experienced her final romance scene), while 17.6% romanced Karlach, and 12.9% shared a moment 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 had intimate encounters with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacle experience.
Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices
Beyond the main narrative, players engaged in numerous side activities. A remarkable 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, a testament to the game's humorous elements. Friendly dinosaurs received visits from 3.5 million players, while 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, indirectly boosting the game's lute rock presence.
Animal companions also played a crucial role. Scratch, the loyal canine companion, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his flawless 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.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
A significant 93% of players created custom avatars, highlighting the importance of character personalization. Among pre-made characters, Astarion was the most popular (1.21 million players), followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.
The Paladin class was the most chosen (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by the Sorcerer and Fighter classes (over 7.5 million each). Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had substantial representation, though fewer than 7.5 million. Rangers and Clerics had lower numbers.
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 had significant numbers (over 7.5 million each). Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less popular, but still chosen by over 2.5 million players each. Gnomes and Halflings had the lowest numbers. Specific class-race combinations also emerged, with Dwarves favoring Paladins, Dragonborn preferring Sorcerers, and Halflings leaning towards Bards and Rogues.
Epic Achievements and Narrative Outcomes
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. 1.8 million players betrayed the Emperor, 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killed the Netherbrain (200,000 with Gale's sacrifice). A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.
In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics provide a rich tapestry of player choices and experiences, showcasing the game's depth and replayability. From romantic entanglements to humorous side quests and challenging combat encounters, the community's journey through the Forgotten Realms has been truly unique and memorable.
