Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing a fascinating collection of player statistics, revealing surprising choices and playful moments within the game's sprawling world. These stats, shared on X (formerly Twitter), offer a unique glimpse into player preferences and behaviors.

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 remained high, with 48.8% experiencing her final romance scene, compared to 17.6% with Karlach and 12.9% with Lae'zel.

More adventurous players explored relationships with Halsin (658,000 players), with a preference for his human form (70%) over his bear form (30%). Remarkably, 1.1 million players engaged in intimate encounters with the Emperor, favoring the Dream Guardian form (63%) over the mind flayer tentacles (37%).

Whimsical Adventures and Unconventional Choices

Beyond romance, players engaged in a variety of humorous activities. 1.9 million players became cheese wheels, showcasing the game's lighthearted side. Friendly dinosaurs welcomed 3.5 million visitors, and 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for unusual side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their dark nature, saw 3,777 players spare Alfira, inadvertently boosting the game's lute rock presence.

Animal companions also received considerable attention. Scratch, the loyal canine, was petted over 120 million times, while the Owlbear Cub received over 41 million pets. A curious 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat – the same number who conquered Honour Mode, creating a fun statistical coincidence.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

The data reveals a strong preference for custom character creation, with 93% of players choosing this option. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players), Gale (1.20 million), and Shadowheart (0.86 million) proved most popular. Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge, indicating a fascination with this enigmatic character.

Paladin was the most popular class (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, though none reached the 7.5 million mark. Rangers and Clerics had fewer players.

Elves were the most chosen 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, while Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves had over 2.5 million each. Gnomes and Halflings had fewer players. Specific class-race combinations were also prevalent, with Dwarves favoring Paladins, Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers, and Halflings leaning towards Bards and Rogues.

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), and killing the Netherbrain (3.3 million, with 200,000 involving Gale's sacrifice). A rare event saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.

In conclusion, Larian Studios' anniversary statistics provide a comprehensive and entertaining overview of Baldur's Gate 3's diverse player base, showcasing a wide range of gameplay styles, romantic choices, and narrative outcomes. The data paints a vibrant picture of the game's impact and the unique experiences players have forged within the Forgotten Realms.