BG3 Data Reveals Surprising Player Encounters

Larian Studios Celebrates Baldur's Gate 3's Anniversary with Revealing Player Statistics

To mark Baldur's Gate 3's first anniversary, Larian Studios shared fascinating player statistics on X (formerly Twitter), offering a glimpse into player choices and gameplay styles. The data reveals a diverse and engaging community experience, ranging from romantic entanglements to humorous misadventures.

Romance and Relationships:

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 Shadowheart as the most popular choice (32.5%), while Act 3 solidified her leading position in romantic encounters (48.8%). Karlach also enjoyed significant romantic interest (13.5% in Act 1, 17.6% in Act 3). A surprising number of players (658,000) engaged in romantic encounters with Halsin, with a slight preference for his human form. The Emperor also proved popular, with 1.1 million players experiencing intimate moments.

Whimsical Adventures:

Beyond romance, players engaged in a variety of quirky activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, while 3.5 million befriended dinosaurs. The act of freeing Us from the Colony resonated with 2 million players. Even the Dark Urge showed a surprising softer side, with at least 3,777 players finding a way to spare Alfira. The game's animal companions also received considerable attention, with Scratch the dog receiving over 120 million pets and the Owlbear Cub over 41 million. A curious parallel emerged: the number of players who attempted to pet the Emperor's cat (141,600) mirrored those who completed Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences:

An impressive 93% of players opted to create custom characters, showcasing the game's robust character creation system. Among pre-made characters, Astarion was the most popular choice. The Paladin class proved most popular, followed closely by the Sorcerer and Fighter classes. Elves were the most frequently chosen race, followed by Half-Elves and Humans. Interesting class-race combinations emerged, such as Dwarves favoring Paladins and Dragonborn preferring Sorcerers.

Epic Challenges and Story Choices:

The statistics also reveal the game's challenging nature. 141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. A significant number of players (1.8 million) betrayed the Emperor, demonstrating the game's moral ambiguity. Other notable choices include convincing Orpheus to live as a mind flayer (329,000) and killing the Netherbrain (3.3 million), with a significant portion involving Gale's sacrifice.

Larian Studios' anniversary statistics paint a vivid picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaging player base. The data highlights the game's success in creating a memorable experience rich in romance, humor, challenge, and compelling narrative choices.