Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling a fascinating collection of player statistics on Twitter (X). These figures offer a captivating look at player choices and behaviors, showcasing the diverse ways players experienced the game. From romantic entanglements to bizarre side quests, let's delve into the data and uncover the community's unique adventures.
Romantic Encounters in the Forgotten Realms
The statistics reveal romance played a central role for many players. A staggering 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart leading the pack at 27 million, followed by Astarion (15 million) and Minthara (169,937). On Act 1's celebratory night, player choices were varied: 32.5% spent the night with Shadowheart, 13.5% with Karlach, and 15.6% chose solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity soared, with 48.8% of players experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.
More daring players explored relationships with Halsin (658,000), with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. An astonishing 1.1 million players pursued a romance with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer experience.
Whimsical Adventures and Unexpected Choices
Beyond the main storyline, players engaged in a multitude of quirky activities. A surprising 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, highlighting the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received visits from 3.5 million, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for unusual side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their dark tendencies, saw 3,777 players find a way to spare Alfira, inadvertently contributing to the game's lute rock soundtrack.
Animal companions were also popular. Scratch, the loyal canine, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetch skills. The Owlbear Cub wasn't far behind, with over 41 million pets. A curious statistic shows 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat – the exact same number who completed Honour Mode, adding a touch of whimsy.
Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences
Despite the compelling pre-made characters, a remarkable 93% of players created custom avatars, showcasing a strong desire for personalized gameplay. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) was the most popular, followed closely by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the enigmatic Dark Urge.
The Paladin class dominated, with nearly 10 million players embracing the holy warrior role. The Sorcerer and Fighter classes were equally popular, exceeding 7.5 million players each. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had a strong presence, though fewer than 7.5 million players chose each. Rangers and Clerics trailed behind, with less than 5 million players each.
Racial choices were diverse, with Elves leading the way at over 12.5 million. Half-Elves and Humans tied for second place (12.5 million each), followed by Tieflings (over 10 million), Drow, and Dragonborn (both exceeding 7.5 million). Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common but still notable (over 2.5 million each), while Gnomes and Halflings had fewer than 2.5 million selections each. Certain class-race combinations proved particularly popular, reflecting player preferences and character synergy.
Epic Achievements and Storyline Outcomes
The statistics highlight both triumph and defeat. A dedicated 141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in failure. Of those defeated, 76% deleted their saves, while 24% opted for custom mode, showcasing resilience.
Players faced difficult choices, with 1.8 million betraying the Emperor and 329,000 convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer. A significant 3.3 million players killed the Netherbrain, with 200,000 of those witnessing Gale's sacrifice. In a rare occurrence, 34 players saw their Avatar Lae'zel choose self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.
The anniversary statistics paint a vivid portrait of the Baldur's Gate 3 community, showcasing the game's diverse and engaging gameplay. From grand achievements to humorous side quests, the journey through the Forgotten Realms has been truly unique for each player.
