Summary

  • Shadowheart is the most kissed companion in Baldur's Gate 3, with nearly twice as many kisses as the second most popular, Astarion.
  • Over 27 million total kisses were shared with Shadowheart in the game, with her romance scenes being a favorite among players.
  • Larian Studios also revealed that almost 90% of players who tried Honour Mode in Baldur's Gate 3 died along the way, showcasing the game's continued popularity and difficulty.

For its one-year anniversary, Baldur’s Gate 3 revealed a bunch of player statistics, including the fact that Shadowheart has been kissed almost twice as often as any other companion in the game. These statistics all revealed a great deal about how fans played Baldur’s Gate 3, and showed who the most popular characters in the game are.

Since its release last year, Baldur’s Gate 3 has taken the world by storm. It won tons of awards at shows in 2023, including the illustrious Game of the Year title, and it introduced droves of players to Dungeons and Dragons just in time for Wizards of the Coast to update 5th Edition’s rules – with some ideas coming directly from Baldur’s Gate 3 itself.

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Larian Discusses How Baldur’s Gate 3's Size Influences Future Projects

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Recently, Larian Studios shared a bunch of statistics for the anniversary of Baldur’s Gate 3’s launch. While these stats covered tons of topics, some answered a question burning in the hearts of many fans: which companions are getting the most kisses? Of the game’s cast, Shadowheart is by far the most popular, with nearly twice as many kisses as Astarion, who came in second. Baldur's Gate 3's Minthara came in last place with just under 170,000 kisses – undoubtedly because of how tricky it can be to recruit her on some playthroughs.

Baldur’s Gate 3 One-Year Anniversary Romance Statistics

  • Total Kisses
    • Most Kisses: Shadowheart (27,000,000)
    • Second Most: Astarion (15,000,000)
    • Least Kisses: Minthara (169,937)

  • Act 1 Celebration Romance Scene
    • Shadowheart (32.5%)
    • Karlach (13.5%)
    • Slept alone (15.6%)

  • Act 3 Romance
    • Shadowheart romance finale (48.8%)
    • Dinner date with Karlach (17.6%)
    • Held Hands with Lae’zel (12.9%)

  • Other Sex Scenes
    • Halsin (658,000 players)
      • 70% chose his human form
      • 30% chose his bear form

    • The Emperor (1,100,000 players)
      • 63% chose his Guardian form
      • 37% chose his mind flayer form

Shadowheart’s popularity extends beyond the number of kisses she has received. Nearly a third of players spent the night with Shadowheart during the camp party in Act 1, and almost half of fans who got to Act 3 saw her final romance scene. It is safe to say Shadowheart is more than just “God’s favorite princess.”

Though she did not beat Shadowheart or Astarion in the kiss count, Karlach also seems to be a popular romance option in Baldur's Gate 3. About 14% of players spent the afterparty with her in Act 1, and nearly 18% went on Karlach’s Baldur’s Gate dinner date. Lae’zel was not far behind, with just under 13% holding her hand near the end of the game. As for Halsin, 658,000 fans spent the night with the Druid, with 30% of those players choosing the infamous bear scene. Over a million characters also romanced the Emperor, with over a third of them picking his true form over that of The Guardian.

Larian Studios shared some other interesting stats for its anniversary as well, including the fact that almost 90% of players who tried Honour Mode in Baldur’s Gate 3 died along the way. Even a year after its launch, it is clear Baldur’s Gate 3’s popularity and difficulty have not diminished quite yet.

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Baldur's Gate 3 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Baldur's Gate 3
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RPG
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
August 3, 2023
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios
Engine
Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Full cross-platform play.
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.

THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.

A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.

Cross Save
Full cross-platform progression.
Div
Franchise
Baldur's Gate
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical Only
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
100+ Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
Local Co-Op Support
1-2 Players