BG3 Player Data Reveals Unexpected Encounters and Transformations

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing a fascinating collection of player statistics, showcasing the diverse ways players have experienced the game. These stats, shared on X (formerly Twitter), reveal everything from romantic entanglements to bizarre occurrences and preferred character builds.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

The data reveals a community deeply invested in the game's romance options. Over 75 million companion kisses were recorded, with Shadowheart leading the pack at 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 for solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity soared, 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% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. An astonishing 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, with 63% choosing the Dream Guardian form and 37% opting for the mind flayer tentacles.

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Choices

Beyond romance, players engaged in a plethora of unusual activities. 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, a testament to the game's humorous mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received 3.5 million visits, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge, known for their darkness, saw 3,777 players spare Alfira, inadvertently contributing to the game's lute rock soundtrack.

Animal companions were also popular, with Scratch the dog receiving over 120 million pets and the Owlbear Cub over 41 million. Interestingly, 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty the cat – the same number who conquered Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

A remarkable 93% of players created custom characters, highlighting the desire for personalized heroes. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) were the most popular. Intriguingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.

The Paladin class was the most popular, with nearly 10 million players, followed closely by Sorcerer and Fighter (both over 7.5 million). Other classes had notable representation, but none reached the 7.5 million mark.

Elves were the most chosen race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (both 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million choices. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common, with over 2.5 million each. Gnomes and Halflings had fewer than 2.5 million selections.

Specific class-race combinations were also favored. For example, Dwarves often chose Paladin (20%), while Dragonborn leaned towards Sorcerer. Halflings preferred Bard and Rogue, while Gnomes favored Bards and Druids, and Tieflings balanced between Paladin, Barbarian, and Warlock.

Epic Achievements and Unexpected Endings

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.

Players made significant choices in the narrative: 1.8 million 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 vivid picture of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse and engaged community, highlighting the game's depth and replayability.