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 unique insight into player choices and gameplay styles. The data reveals a diverse range of experiences, from romantic entanglements to quirky side quests and challenging combat encounters.

Romance and Relationships in the Forgotten Realms

The statistics 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 to sleep alone. By Act 3, Shadowheart maintained her popularity (48.8% experienced her final romance scene), with Karlach (17.6%) and Lae'zel (12.9%) also receiving significant romantic attention.

A more adventurous 658,000 players pursued relationships with Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. Remarkably, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, favoring the Dream Guardian form (63%) over the mind flayer tentacle experience (37%).

Whimsical Adventures and Unconventional Choices

Beyond the main narrative, players engaged in numerous humorous activities. 1.9 million players experienced the joy of transforming into cheese wheels, while 3.5 million befriended dinosaurs and 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge, known for their darker tendencies, saw 3,777 players find a way to spare Alfira, leading to an increase in lute rock within the game.

Animal companions also received considerable affection. Scratch, the loyal canine, was petted over 120 million times, surpassing the Owlbear Cub's 41 million pets. A curious 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat – the same number who completed Honour Mode, adding an unexpected layer to the statistics.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

An impressive 93% of players opted to create custom characters, showcasing the game's robust character customization options. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) proved the most popular, followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge, highlighting the character's intrigue.

The Paladin class dominated, with nearly 10 million players choosing this path. Sorcerers and Fighters followed closely, each exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, had substantial representation, though fewer than 7.5 million. Rangers and Clerics trailed behind, with less than 5 million players each.

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 exceeded 7.5 million choices. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common, but still chosen by over 2.5 million players each, while Gnomes and Halflings had fewer selections. Certain class-race combinations proved particularly popular, reflecting character archetypes and player preferences.

Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices

141,660 players successfully completed Honour Mode, showcasing their exceptional skills. 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. A substantial 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 Baldur's Gate 3 anniversary statistics provide a compelling snapshot of the game's diverse and engaged player community, highlighting the breadth of experiences and choices within the game.