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

To mark Baldur's Gate 3's first anniversary, Larian Studios unveiled fascinating player statistics, offering a glimpse into player choices and behaviors. The data reveals a diverse range of playstyles, from romantic entanglements to unusual in-game antics.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

Romance played a significant role for many players. 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 with Shadowheart, 13.5% with Karlach, and 15.6% choosing solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued (48.8% experienced her final romance scene), while Karlach (17.6%) and Lae'zel (12.9%) also saw significant romantic interest. A more adventurous 658,000 players pursued Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form. Surprisingly, 1.1 million players engaged with the Emperor, 63% opting for the Dream Guardian form.

Whimsical Adventures and Unconventional Choices

Beyond romance, players engaged in humorous activities. 1.9 million players became cheese wheels, 3.5 million visited friendly dinosaurs, and 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge showed unexpected compassion, with 3,777 players finding a way to spare Alfira. Animal companions were also popular, with Scratch the dog receiving over 120 million pets and the Owlbear Cub over 41 million. A curious 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 characters, highlighting the game's robust character customization. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) was the most popular, followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.

The Paladin class was the most chosen (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by Sorcerer and Fighter (over 7.5 million each). Other classes had notable representation, though fewer than 7.5 million players.

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. Interesting class-race combinations emerged, such as Dwarves favoring Paladins and Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers.

Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices

141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat (76% deleted saves, 24% continued in custom mode). 1.8 million players betrayed the Emperor, 329,000 convinced Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killed the Netherbrain (200,000 with Gale's sacrifice). A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.

These statistics paint a lively picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse player base, showcasing the game's depth and replayability. From grand achievements to humorous side quests, players have crafted unique and memorable experiences in the Forgotten Realms.