BG3 Characters' Antics Revealed: From Emperor's Embrace to Cheesy Encounters

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

To mark Baldur's Gate 3's first anniversary, Larian Studios shared fascinating player statistics on X (formerly Twitter), offering a glimpse into player choices and gameplay styles. The data reveals a diverse and engaging community experience, from romantic entanglements to unusual in-game events.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

Romance played a central role for many players. A staggering 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart leading the pack at 27 million. Astarion followed with 15 million, while Minthara received 169,937. Act 1's celebratory night saw Shadowheart as the most popular companion (32.5%), followed by Karlach (13.5%), with 15.6% choosing solitude. Shadowheart's popularity continued into Act 3, with 48.8% of players experiencing her final romance scene.

More adventurous players explored relationships with Halsin (658,000 players), with a preference for his human form (70%), and the Emperor (1.1 million players), favoring the Dream Guardian form (63%).

Whimsical Adventures and Unconventional Choices

Beyond romance, players embraced the game's lighter side. 1.9 million players became cheese wheels, 3.5 million befriended dinosaurs, and 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Surprisingly, 3,777 Dark Urge players spared Alfira, leading to an increase in lute rock.

Animal companions received significant attention: Scratch the dog was petted over 120 million times, while the Owlbear Cub received over 41 million pets. 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 character customization options. Among pre-made characters, Astarion was the most popular (1.21 million players), followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.

Paladin was the most chosen class (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by Sorcerer and Fighter (over 7.5 million each). Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (12.5 million each).

Interesting class/race combinations emerged: Dwarves favored Paladin (20%), Dragonborn chose Sorcerer, Halflings preferred Bard and Rogue, Gnomes liked Bards and Druids, and Tieflings balanced between Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.

Epic Achievements and Storyline 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 unique outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.

These statistics paint a vivid picture of the Baldur's Gate 3 community's diverse and engaging experiences within the Forgotten Realms. From grand achievements to lighthearted moments, the journey has been truly extraordinary.