Baldur's Gate 3 Players Face Emperor, Use Transformations

To mark the anniversary of Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios has unveiled a fascinating collection of player data. Dive into the extraordinary accomplishments, unique playstyles, and delightfully quirky moments that have defined this community's adventure.

Baldur's Gate 3 Anniversary Statistics

Romance in the Forgotten Realms

Celebrating its anniversary, Larian Studios shared a treasure trove of player stats via Twitter/X, offering a captivating look at community trends and choices. From beloved characters to unexpected in-game decisions, these figures tell the story of countless adventures. Let's explore what the numbers reveal, beginning with the romantic pursuits of the community.

Romance was a cornerstone of the Baldur's Gate 3 experience for many. Players shared over 75 million companion kisses, with Shadowheart leading at 27 million, followed by Astarion at 15 million, and Minthara with 169,937. During Act 1's camp celebration, 32.5% of players chose to spend the night with Shadowheart, 13.5% with Karlach, while 15.6% decided to sleep alone. By Act 3, Shadowheart remained the most popular, with 48.8% of players witnessing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% who enjoyed a romantic dinner with Karlach and 12.9% who shared a tender moment with Lae'zel.

For those seeking more adventurous encounters, 658,000 players had intimate moments with Halsin—70% in his human form and 30% in his bear form. Additionally, 1.1 million players engaged in liaisons with the Emperor, with 63% preferring the Dream Guardian form and 37% embracing the unique experience offered by mind flayer tentacles.

Fun and Whimsical Feats

Beyond the epic narrative, players embraced the game's playful side. A humorous 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the community's love for quirky mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs were visited by 3.5 million players, while 2 million freed the intellect devourer, Us, from the Colony. Even the sinister Dark Urge origin saw at least 3,777 players find a way to spare the bard Alfira, indirectly fueling the spread of lute rock throughout the realms.

Animal companions also stole countless hearts. The loyal dog, Scratch, was petted over 120 million times, likely due to his flawless fetch record. The adorable Owlbear Cub received over 41 million pets. In a charming coincidence, 141,600 players attempted to pet the aristocratic cat, His Majesty—the exact same number who successfully conquered the punishing Honour Mode.

Character Class and Race Preferences

Despite the appeal of the game's origin characters, a massive 93% of players created custom avatars, highlighting the deep desire to craft a personal hero. Among the pre-made origins, the vampire rogue Astarion was the most popular choice with 1.21 million players, just ahead of the wizard Gale at 1.20 million and the cleric Shadowheart at 0.86 million. Notably, 15% of custom characters were based on the mysterious Dark Urge, reflecting a strong interest in complex narratives.

In class selection, the Paladin reigned supreme, chosen by nearly 10 million players. The Sorcerer's versatile arcane power attracted over 7.5 million, matched by the straightforward combat prowess of the Fighter. Other classes like Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid had solid followings, though each below 7.5 million. Rangers were chosen by 5 million players, with Clerics selected by fewer than 5 million.

Racial preferences were diverse. Elves topped the list with over 12.5 million selections, tied for second place with Half-Elves and Humans at 12.5 million each. Tieflings attracted over 10 million players, while Drow and Dragonborn each exceeded 7.5 million. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were each chosen by over 2.5 million players, with Gnomes and Halflings rounding out the list at fewer than 2.5 million each.

Delving into combinations reveals distinct trends. Dwarves most commonly became Paladins (20%), Dragonborn leaned into their innate magic as Sorcerers, and Halflings favored the Bard and Rogue classes. Gnomes showed a preference for Bards and Druids, while Tieflings were evenly split between Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.

Epic Achievements and Surprising Outcomes

The game has been a stage for both triumph and tragedy. A skilled 141,660 players conquered the ultimate challenge of Honour Mode. In contrast, 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. Of those, 76% opted to delete their saves, while 24% pressed on in custom mode, showing remarkable determination.

Endgame choices were equally telling. A morally complex 1.8 million players chose to betray the Emperor. Meanwhile, 329,000 convinced Orpheus to live as a mind flayer, pursuing a unique narrative path. A decisive 3.3 million players destroyed the Netherbrain, with 200,000 of those seeing Gale make the ultimate sacrifice. In a poignant and rare outcome, 34 players playing as Lae'zel chose to sacrifice themselves after being rejected by Vlaakith.

The anniversary statistics for Baldur's Gate 3 paint a vibrant portrait of its community. From grand victories to whimsical moments, these numbers celebrate the myriad ways players have shaped their journeys in the Forgotten Realms, proving every adventure is truly unique.