Unveiled: Surprising Encounters in BG3 - Players Get Cheesy with Emperor

Larian Studios celebrated Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary by releasing a fascinating collection of player statistics, revealing intriguing choices and preferences. This data offers a unique perspective on how players have experienced the game, from romantic entanglements to bizarre encounters.

Romantic Pursuits 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% choosing solitude. By Act 3, Shadowheart's popularity continued, 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. Remarkably, 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 tentacle experience.

Whimsical Adventures and Unexpected Encounters

Beyond the epic battles and crucial decisions, players engaged in plenty of lighthearted activities. A surprising 1.9 million players transformed themselves into cheese wheels, showcasing the game's playful mechanics. Friendly dinosaurs received 3.5 million visits, while 2 million players freed Us from the Colony, demonstrating a fondness for unusual side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their dark tendencies, saw 3,777 players find a way to spare Alfira, leading to an unexpected increase in lute rock within the game.

Animal companions also played a significant role. Scratch, the loyal canine companion, received over 120 million pets, likely due to his impeccable fetching skills. The Owlbear Cub wasn't far behind, with over 41 million pets. 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 chose to create custom characters, highlighting the appeal of personalized heroes. Among pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) proved most popular, followed closely by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). Intriguingly, 15% of custom characters were based on the enigmatic Dark Urge.

The Paladin class dominated, with almost 10 million players choosing this path. Sorcerers and Fighters followed closely, each exceeding 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also had substantial representation, though fewer than 7.5 million. Rangers and Clerics had the lowest numbers.

Racial choices were similarly diverse, with Elves leading the way (over 12.5 million), followed by Half-Elves and Humans (12.5 million each). Tieflings, Drow, and Dragonborn also exceeded 7.5 million, while Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves had over 2.5 million each. Gnomes and Halflings had the lowest numbers. Specific class-race combinations also emerged, with Dwarves favoring Paladins, Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers, and Halflings leaning towards Bards and Rogues.

Epic Achievements and Dramatic Choices

141,660 players conquered Honour Mode, a testament to their skill. Conversely, 1,223,305 playthroughs ended in defeat, with 76% of those players deleting their saves and 24% continuing in custom mode.

Players faced difficult choices, with 1.8 million betraying the Emperor, 329,000 convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer, and 3.3 million killing the Netherbrain (200,000 with Gale's sacrifice). A rare outcome saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection.

In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary statistics showcase a vibrant and diverse player community, highlighting the game's depth and replayability. The data reveals a wide spectrum of choices, from romantic relationships and quirky side quests to challenging combat encounters and morally complex decisions.