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

To mark Baldur's Gate 3's first anniversary, Larian Studios shared a fascinating collection of player statistics on X (formerly Twitter), offering a glimpse into the diverse ways players have experienced the game. These stats cover romance, quirky choices, character preferences, and epic achievements.

Romantic Encounters in the Forgotten Realms:

The data reveals a significant focus on romance within the game. Over 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart leading the way (27 million kisses), followed by Astarion (15 million) and Minthara (169,937). Act 1 and Act 3 romance choices also showed strong preferences for specific companions. A surprising number (1.1 million) engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with a notable split between his Dream Guardian and mind flayer forms. Halsin's popularity also extended beyond friendship, with 658,000 players choosing to become intimate with him, split between his human and bear forms.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices:

Beyond romance, players embraced the game's humorous side. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, 3.5 million visited friendly dinosaurs, and 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge, known for their darkness, saw 3,777 players spare Alfira, leading to an increase in lute rock. The sheer number of pettings bestowed upon Scratch (over 120 million) and the Owlbear Cub (over 41 million) highlights the bond players formed with their animal companions. A curious statistic shows 141,600 players attempted to pet the Emperor's cat—the same number who completed Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences:

An impressive 93% of players created custom avatars, demonstrating a strong desire for personalization. Among pre-made characters, Astarion was the most popular, followed by Gale and Shadowheart. Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge. Paladin was the most chosen class (nearly 10 million players), closely followed by Sorcerer and Fighter. Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans. Specific class/race combinations also showed interesting trends, reflecting players' roleplaying choices.

Epic Achievements and Defining Choices:

The statistics also highlight the game's challenging aspects. 141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. Of those defeated, a majority deleted their saves, while others continued in custom mode. Major story choices also saw diverse outcomes, with millions betraying the Emperor or killing the Netherbrain, showcasing the impact of player decisions. A particularly rare choice involved 34 players choosing self-sacrifice as Avatar Lae'zel.

These statistics paint a vivid portrait of the Baldur's Gate 3 community, demonstrating the breadth and depth of player engagement, from the grandest battles to the most unexpected and humorous moments.