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 glimpse into player preferences and in-game choices. The data reveals a diverse range of gameplay styles, from epic battles to surprisingly whimsical moments.

Romantic Encounters 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's popularity continued, with 48.8% experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.

A more adventurous 658,000 players pursued romance with Halsin, with 70% choosing his human form and 30% his bear form. Furthermore, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with 63% preferring the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacle experience.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices

Beyond the main narrative, players engaged in a variety of humorous activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. 3.5 million players visited friendly dinosaurs, and 2 million freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for unconventional side quests. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, inadvertently contributing to the game's lute rock soundtrack.

Animal companions also received considerable attention. Scratch, the loyal dog, was petted over 120 million times, likely due to his impeccable fetch skills. The Owlbear Cub received over 41 million pets. Interestingly, 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat—the same number who conquered Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

An overwhelming 93% of players created custom avatars, highlighting the importance of character personalization. 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 (both over 7.5 million). Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had significant representation.

Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (both 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million selections. Less common races included Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves.

Specific class-race combinations revealed interesting trends. Dwarves frequently chose Paladin (20%), while Dragonborn favored Sorcerer. Halflings leaned towards Bard and Rogue, reflecting their in-game traits. Gnomes preferred Bards and Druids, and Tieflings balanced between Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.

Epic Achievements and Narrative Choices

141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. Of those defeated, 76% deleted their saves, while 24% continued in custom mode.

Significant narrative choices included betraying the Emperor (1.8 million players), convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer (329,000 players), and killing the Netherbrain (3.3 million players, 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 statistics paint a vibrant picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse community and the myriad ways players have experienced the game.