BG3 Sinful Stats: Players' Emperors, Cheese Escapades

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling a fascinating collection of player statistics, showcasing diverse gameplay styles and choices. The data reveals intriguing insights into player romances, whimsical interactions, character preferences, and challenging achievements.

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% opting for Karlach, and 15.6% sleeping alone. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued, with 48.8% of players 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 tentacles experience.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices

Beyond the main narrative, players engaged in numerous humorous activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received 3.5 million visits, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for side quests. Surprisingly, at least 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, contributing to the game's lute rock prevalence.

Animal companions also featured prominently. Scratch the dog received over 120 million pets, likely due to his flawless fetch skills, while the Owlbear Cub received over 41 million. Interestingly, 141,600 players attempted to pet the Emperor's cat – the same number who conquered Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

A remarkable 93% of players created custom characters, highlighting the appeal of personalized heroes. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) were the most popular. 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, 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 (12.5 million each). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million selections.

Specific class-race combinations emerged: Dwarves favored Paladins (20%), Dragonborn preferred Sorcerers, Halflings gravitated towards Bards and Rogues, Gnomes chose Bards and Druids, and Tieflings balanced between Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.

Epic Achievements and Diverse Endings

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 by Vlaakith.

The anniversary statistics paint a vibrant picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaging community. From romantic choices to humorous interactions and challenging achievements, players have shaped their unique journeys in the Forgotten Realms.