2023's Game of the Year continues to receive high praise both in awards nominations and wins as well as gamers themselves, Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 so full of stories and characters that have made a clear and lasting impression on gamers, the popularity of the game seemingly unwavering.
The list on BAFTA's website notes that"Shadowheart charmed her way into the hearts of players worldwide" and"Astarion's rogueish charms have made him a fan favourite." Sharing the LoveBack in December, Larian Studios shared some statistics from the game's full release launch in August that confirmed what anyone who had interacted with the game already knew: Shadowheart and Astarion are incredibly popular characters. At the time, Astarion was a close second place as the most popular origin character for players to opt to experience the game as, with Shadowheart's romance arc reigning as the most popular option with 51.