Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling a fascinating collection of player statistics, offering a captivating look at player choices and gameplay styles. The data, shared on Twitter (X), reveals everything from romantic entanglements to bizarre encounters and surprising character preferences.
Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms
The stats showcase romance as a central element of many players' Baldur's Gate 3 experiences. 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 remained strong (48.8% experienced her final romance scene), while 17.6% romanced Karlach and 12.9% shared a tender moment with Lae'zel.
For those seeking more unconventional romances, 658,000 players engaged with Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. Remarkably, 1.1 million players pursued a relationship with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer experience.
Whimsical Adventures and Unexpected Encounters
Beyond the grand narrative, players embraced the game's lighter side. 1.9 million players experienced the unique joy of transforming into cheese wheels, while 3.5 million befriended dinosaurs and 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge surprised many, with 3,777 players finding a way to spare Alfira, leading to an increase in lute rock within the game.
The affection for animal companions was undeniable. Scratch, the loyal canine, received over 120 million pets, a testament to his charming personality. The Owlbear Cub also garnered significant attention, with over 41 million pets. In a curious statistic, 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat – the same number who completed Honour Mode.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
Despite the appeal of pre-made characters, a remarkable 93% of players created custom avatars, highlighting the importance of personalization. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) were the most popular choices. Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.
The Paladin class reigned supreme, with almost 10 million players choosing this path. Sorcerers and Fighters followed closely behind, each exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, had considerable representation, while Rangers and Clerics had lower numbers.
Elves dominated racial choices (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (both around 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also had significant numbers. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common, while Gnomes and Halflings had the lowest representation. Certain class-race combinations proved particularly popular, with Dwarves favoring Paladins, Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers, and Halflings opting for Bards and Rogues.
Epic Triumphs and Challenging Defeats
The stats also reveal the game's challenging aspects. 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.
Significant narrative choices also impacted player outcomes. 1.8 million players betrayed the Emperor, 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million 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.
In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics provide a comprehensive overview of player choices and experiences, highlighting the game's diverse appeal and the unforgettable journeys undertaken in the Forgotten Realms.
