BG3 Encounters Analyzed: Players Indulge in Unconventional Shenanigans

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling fascinating player statistics, offering a captivating glimpse into player preferences and in-game choices. From romantic entanglements to unusual escapades, the data reveals a diverse and engaging player experience.

Romantic Adventures in the Forgotten Realms

Larian's Twitter (X) post yesterday showcased the sheer scale of player romance. A staggering 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% opting for Karlach, and 15.6% choosing 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.

The more adventurous players engaged in 658,000 romantic encounters with Halsin, with a 70/30 split between his human and bear forms. Remarkably, 1.1 million players pursued romance with the Emperor, favoring the Dream Guardian form (63%) over the mind flayer option (37%).

Whimsical Encounters and Quirky Quests

Beyond the romance, players engaged in a variety of unusual activities. A surprising 1.9 million players transformed into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs welcomed 3.5 million visitors, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their darker tendencies, saw 3,777 players spare Alfira, unexpectedly boosting the game's lute rock scene.

Animal companions also received considerable attention. Scratch, the loyal canine, was petted over 120 million times, likely due to his impeccable fetching skills. The Owlbear Cub received over 41 million pets. Interestingly, the same number of players (141,600) attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat, as conquered Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class Preferences

While the pre-made characters proved popular, a remarkable 93% of players created custom avatars, highlighting the desire for personalized heroes. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) topped the list, followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). 15% of custom avatars were based on the enigmatic Dark Urge.

The Paladin class emerged as the most popular choice (nearly 10 million players), followed closely by the Sorcerer and Fighter classes (both over 7.5 million). Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had significant representation. Rangers and Clerics rounded out the list.

Elves dominated the racial choices (over 12.5 million), followed by Humans and Half-Elves (both 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million selections each. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common but still notable, with each surpassing 2.5 million. Gnomes and Halflings had fewer selections. Specific class-race combinations also revealed interesting trends, such as Dwarves favoring Paladins and Dragonborn leaning towards Sorcerers.

Epic Achievements and Storyline Choices

The statistics also highlight the game's challenging aspects. 141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, while 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat. 76% of those defeated deleted their saves, while 24% continued in custom mode.

Significant storyline 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 choice saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after Vlaakith's rejection.

In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics paint a vivid portrait of a diverse and engaged player base, showcasing the game's captivating narrative, challenging gameplay, and memorable moments.