BG3 Survey Reveals Unusual Player Behavior: Intimacy, Cheese Theft, and Beyond

To celebrate Baldur's Gate 3's anniversary, Larian Studios unveiled fascinating player statistics on Twitter (X), offering a glimpse into the community's diverse gameplay experiences. The data reveals everything from romantic entanglements to bizarre occurrences and preferred character builds.

Romantic Pursuits in the Forgotten Realms

Larian's anniversary stats highlight the significant role romance played in many players' journeys. 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.

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

Whimsical Adventures and Quirky Side Quests

Beyond romance, players indulged in a variety of unusual activities. A surprising 1.9 million players transformed themselves 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 unconventional side quests. Even the Dark Urge, known for their dark nature, saw 3,777 players find a way to spare Alfira, inadvertently boosting the game's lute rock presence.

Animal companions also received considerable attention. Scratch, the loyal canine companion, was petted over 120 million times, 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, adding a touch of irony to the statistics.

Character Creation and Class/Race Preferences

Despite the appeal of pre-made characters, a remarkable 93% of players opted to create custom avatars, highlighting the desire for personalized heroes. Among the pre-made characters, Astarion (1.21 million players) was the most popular, followed by Gale (1.20 million) and Shadowheart (0.86 million). The enigmatic Dark Urge inspired 15% of custom character creations.

The Paladin class emerged as the most chosen, with nearly 10 million players embracing this holy warrior role. The Sorcerer and Fighter classes followed closely, each boasting over 7.5 million players. Other classes, including Barbarian, Rogue, Warlock, Monk, and Druid, also enjoyed significant popularity. Rangers and Clerics trailed behind, with fewer than 7.5 million and 5 million players respectively.

Racial choices were diverse, with Elves leading the way at over 12.5 million selections. Humans and Half-Elves shared second place (12.5 million each), followed by Tieflings (over 10 million), Drow, and Dragonborn (both exceeding 7.5 million). Half-Orcs, Githyanki, and Dwarves were also popular choices, while Gnomes and Halflings had lower representation. Specific class-race combinations also revealed interesting trends, with Dwarves favoring Paladins, Dragonborn choosing Sorcerers, and Halflings leaning towards Bards and Rogues.

Epic Feats and Story Outcomes

Baldur's Gate 3 presented players with numerous challenges and 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 betraying the Emperor (1.8 million players), convincing Orpheus to remain a mind flayer (329,000 players), and killing the Netherbrain (3.3 million players, with 200,000 involving Gale's sacrifice). A unique ending saw 34 players experience Avatar Lae'zel's self-sacrifice after rejection by Vlaakith.

In conclusion, Larian's anniversary statistics paint a vivid picture of the diverse and engaging experiences within Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing the breadth of player choices and the memorable moments that define the game's community.