Baldur's Gate 3: A Year of Kisses, Cheese, and Astarion's Rise to Fame

Baldur's Gate 3 marked its first anniversary last month, and while Larian Studios is already looking ahead to its next projects, the team hasn't forgotten about the captivating and often bizarre choices players made in the hit RPG. Just as it did a couple of times towards the end of last year, Larian has compiled a fascinating array of statistics that reveal just how much players embraced the game's unexpected and often bizarre avenues for interaction.

One of the most surprising figures highlights the sheer number of players who embraced the game's more unusual quests: a staggering 1.9 million people chose to be transformed into a cheese wheel. This begs the question: when faced with an immortal being possessing unimaginable power, why would anyone choose to antagonise it? Perhaps, as Larian suggests, Chaotic Neutral players have a knack for the absurd.

For those who preferred a more conventional approach, Honour Mode offered a truly challenging experience. However, it seems that only a select few managed to conquer its unforgiving trials. Out of the game's massive player base, a mere 141,660 players managed to complete the game in this difficult setting. In contrast, a whopping 1.2 million players succumbed to the challenge, with a staggering 76% of them opting to delete their save files, indicating just how punishing Honour Mode can be.

While most players - 93% to be precise - opted to craft their own custom character, the choice of origin characters provided a captivating insight into player preferences. Notably, Astarion, the charismatic and seductive vampire companion, has just overtaken Gale as the most popular origin character. This suggests that Astarion's undeniable charm and his captivating storyline, fuelled by memes and fan adoration, have managed to outshine even the somewhat endearing, albeit over-earnest, Gale, who comes with his own flying feline companion.

A visually appealing graph reveals the most popular class choices for each race. As expected, dwarves gravitate towards melee roles like paladins, barbarians, and fighters. However, a surprising trend emerges with halflings: a significant number of players opted for the monk class, highlighting a penchant for the idea of a suplexing short king, albeit a minority compared to the popularity of bards and rogues. Intriguingly, the most played class, paladin, doesn't seem to be the top choice for the most played race, elf.

While some might be curious about the intriguing statistics surrounding certain intimate encounters, Larian chose to focus on the heart-warming trend of players interacting with the game's many animals. In the vast majority of cases, players opted to treat these creatures with kindness and affection, suggesting that even in a world filled with dark magic and dangerous creatures, players retain a sense of compassion for those less fortunate.

Finally, Larian presented some intriguing data about the game's various endings. We learn that a significant number of players opted to embrace Gale's apotheosizing god-form with a heartfelt hug, while a remarkable 3.3 million players successfully defeated the Netherbrain. Of these, a surprising 200,000 chose the rather dramatic (and arguably convenient) option of having Gale sacrifice himself by detonating his own body. While this might seem like a popular choice, Larian found it surprisingly low, indicating that players might prefer a less destructive approach to resolving the game's final conflict.

In conclusion, Baldur's Gate 3's first anniversary statistics offer a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and unexpected ways players have engaged with the game. From transforming into cheese wheels to embracing the challenge of Honour Mode, players have truly embraced the game's depth and its potential for chaotic and often humorous outcomes. As Larian prepares for new adventures, these insights offer valuable feedback about player preferences and expectations, ensuring that the studio continues to push boundaries and create unforgettable experiences for players worldwide.