Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by unveiling a fascinating collection of player statistics, offering a unique perspective on player choices and gameplay styles. These stats, shared on Twitter (X), reveal everything from romantic entanglements to unusual in-game antics.

Romance and Relationships in the Forgotten Realms

The data showcases the significant role romance played in many players' adventures. 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 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% experiencing her final romance scene. Karlach's romantic dinner was chosen by 17.6%, and Lae'zel's hand-holding scene by 12.9%.

For those seeking more adventurous romances, 658,000 players pursued Halsin, with 70% preferring his human form and 30% his bear form. An impressive 1.1 million players engaged with the Emperor, with 63% selecting the Dream Guardian form and 37% choosing the mind flayer tentacles experience.

Whimsical Adventures and Unexpected Encounters

Beyond the main narrative, players indulged in numerous quirky activities. 1.9 million players transformed themselves into cheese wheels, a testament to the game's playful mechanics. 3.5 million players visited friendly dinosaurs, while 2 million freed Us from the Colony. Even the Dark Urge, known for their dark tendencies, saw 3,777 players find a way to spare Alfira, unexpectedly fostering the growth of lute rock within the game.

Animal companions also received considerable attention. Scratch, the loyal dog, was petted over 120 million times, likely a result of his flawless fetching skills. The Owlbear Cub was petted over 41 million times. A curious statistic reveals that 141,600 players attempted to pet His Majesty, the cat—the same number who completed Honour Mode.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

The overwhelming majority (93%) of players created custom avatars, showcasing the game's strong character customization options. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) was the most popular, closely followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Interestingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the Dark Urge.

The Paladin class proved most popular, with nearly 10 million players. Sorcerers and Fighters followed closely, both exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had significant representation. Rangers and Clerics had lower numbers, with Rangers chosen by 5 million and Clerics by fewer than 5 million.

Elves were the most popular race (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (both at 12.5 million). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million. Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were less common, each chosen by over 2.5 million players. Gnomes and Halflings had the lowest numbers, under 2.5 million each. Specific class-race combinations also emerged as favorites, such as Dwarves as Paladins and Dragonborn as Sorcerers.

Epic Achievements and Storyline Choices

141,660 players successfully completed 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 1.8 million players betraying the Emperor, 329,000 convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killing the Netherbrain (with 200,000 involving Gale's sacrifice). A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.

In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics paint a vivid picture of a diverse and engaged community, highlighting the game's depth and replayability. From romantic choices to challenging battles and quirky side quests, players have crafted a wide array of unique experiences within the Forgotten Realms.