Torby Flenderson
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torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Torby Flenderson
@torbyflenderson.bsky.social
55 followers 110 following 180 posts
All in all, a pretty boring but otherwise pleasant person. A somewhat single dad, teacher, nerd, gamer, baker, aging emo kid. Regular legend Hearthstone and plat Overwatch player. Podcast enthusiast. He/him.
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torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Torby Flenderson @torbyflenderson.bsky.social · 23d
It's that time of year! I've once again ranked all of the games I've tried for the first time this year, and will be giving a countdown throughout December along with mini reviews of each.

I'll also be expanding on these as a guest writer on @stormraige23.bsky.social's substack. Happy gaming!
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
The next installment of my game rankings is up on Stormraige's substack. Click through to hear my thoughts on Clover Pit, Return to Grace, Final Fantasy III, Dordogne, and Close to the Sun.

open.substack.com/pub/stormrai...
2025 Game Rankings: Part 2
The "Good Not Great" tier. Right where I belong.
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Time start my countdown of the 24 games I played for the first time this year.

24. Road 96: Mile 0
23. Humanity
22. Manifold Garden
21. Herdling

One game that left me disappointed, and 3 games I liked, just not well enough to finish.

You can read my reviews of each at substack.com/home/post/p-...
2025 Game Rankings: Part 1
You didn't ask for this. But you're getting it anyway.
substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:50 AM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Two good games I barely played: I loved listening to @squelchpod.bsky.social play through Dragon Age: Origins, but it controlled (and aged) poorly on console. #Wildgate is a super fun crew based shooter with ship to ship combat. I'd definitely play more if I gamed on PC. I highly recommend this one.
Dragon Age: Origins: the human noble, a companion, and his dog, fighting rats in the pantry. The combat system was clunky and hard to manage on console. I did not enjoy how it played. Unfortunate, because the characters and story were excellent. Thanks to Squelch for narrating through the game, otherwise I would have likely not experienced what it had to offer. Wildgate: a first person view as the player puts out fires on their ship. Players control ships and explore, trying to find mission objectives, while opponents try to board and sabotage them. Though I only got to play through some of the tutorials, I've enjoyed spectating others as they played. It's a great team game, and one I recommend people try out.
December 2, 2025 at 11:40 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Two games I want to like but couldn't get into yet: Nine Sols and Darkest Dungeon. DD was leaving Gamepass so I tried it and had fun, but would have to put too much time into to fully enjoy. NS has an excellent story and atmosphere, but I did not like the parry based combat. I will likely try again.
Darkest Dungeon: four party members on the left stand in a line facing two enemies on the right, swine abominations, one huge, one small. They are standing in a dank brick corridor with what appears to be a circular portcullis to a sewer passage in the background. Many informational displays regarding stats, abilities, and maps are lined up across the bottom of the screen. Nine Sols: the main character, a cat ninja in yellow robes, is on the left, engaged in battle with an armored centaur-like creature at least five times his size, wielding something similar to a double ended scythe. They are in a steampunk setting, with machinery and lines reminiscent of computer symbols in the background.
December 2, 2025 at 11:22 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Two more games I tried but gave up quick because they weren't my style: Magical Delicacy and Volcano Princess. MD has a cute artstyle and good writing, but I'm not super into crafting/cooking type games. VP is a social sim game where you raise a daughter, but the translation and menus were terrible.
Magical Delicacy, the main character (a white haired young woman) walks down the sidewalk of a well kept urban neighborhood. I couldn't really get into the main gameplay mechanic of collecting and using ingredients to follow recipes. Volcano Princess, a small girl standing in a bedroom with lots of buttons and banners tracking different stats and resources. I hated navigating these on console. Also, from the beginning the game is riddled with grammatical errors I couldn't get past. It felt like a bit of a mess to be honest, and definitely not the style of game I enjoy.
December 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
I'll start my 2025 rankings by listing a few games I played this year but will not officially rank, because I did not play them enough to seriously consider. I find it hard to go back to retro games I don't have nostalgia for, so I fell off of Retro Classics and Blizzard Arcade Collection quickly.
Blizzard Arcade Collection, with Rock and Roll Racing, The Lost Vikings, and more. I didn't play them much as a kid, so I don't look back on them fondly, and they don't live up to modern indie games. Retro Classics, a collection of Atari-style retro games. I didn't find anything fun to do here. It's neat to look back at what used to be, but it's not worth spending much time on compared to everything else in my backlog.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
It's that time of year! I've once again ranked all of the games I've tried for the first time this year, and will be giving a countdown throughout December along with mini reviews of each.

I'll also be expanding on these as a guest writer on @stormraige23.bsky.social's substack. Happy gaming!
November 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
This month has not been good enough for me to also feel like I'm this bad at the thing I do for fun.
November 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Reposted by Torby Flenderson
thehousewife-hs.bsky.social
Giveaway "Across the Timeways ⏳️" kindly provided @playhearthstone.bsky.social
⏳️Follow&Like&Share
⏳️Comment and tag your fav content creator! Let's show some ❤️
⏳️Winner drawn on Nov 2nd
Good luck everyone!!! ⌛️
October 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Torby Flenderson
sidisi.bsky.social
Blizzard provided 2 Across the Timeways bundles for me to giveaway to the Hunter community!
(1 here & 1 on X w much worse odds)

You get:
⏳60 Packs
⏳1 Card Back
⏳2 Random Legendaries

To enter:
⏳Follow @SidisiTV
⏳Retweet

✅Winner drawn on Oct 28th.
October 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Well... if it isn't our favorite robot horse crossing guard, Orisa. Halt! She is fortified with pure stopping power. It's going to take some big minions to get through her. Control priest anyone? The Terra Surge ult draws helpless minions in and most won't make it back out. #Hearthstone x #Overwatch
Orisa. A 7 mana 6/8 legendary priest minion. Text: Ultimate. Taunt. Elusive. Cannot be silenced. When a minion attacks this, silence it. Art: Orisa is a 4-legged robot with two arms, somewhat like a centaur. She is reaching out with her left hand to stop a car in its tracks. Yellow horns protrude down past her cheeks giving her a Bull-like appearance. Terra surge, a 6 mana legendary priest spell. Text: choose a friendly minion. It gains immune this turn. Force all enemy minions to attack it. Art: Orisa is golden, using her fortify ability that raises her defense and makes her immune from status effects or interrupts. She is reared up on her hind legs spinning a charged up javelin over her head, ready to crash it down on her enemies. Several heroes, including Pharah and Reinhardt, are drawn in close to her, about to get smashed.
July 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
I'm not a fan of the Pre-Release Brawl, as people not buying preorders have to play clipped versions of old decks, and trying new cards in an artificial meta feels empty to me. That being said I still joined in, and went 6-1 with imbue jug priest. Archaios creates very sticky boards. #Hearthstone
Decklist for imbue jug priest, link in comments.
July 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
I thoroughly enjoy Brig, and think she fits perfectly into Paladin. Her inspire passive heals teammates as she plunges into battle, while Rally shields your minions. I was toying with the idea of a whipshot battlecry, but rush fits the card better. Mace to the face! #Overwatch x #Hearthstone
Brigitte, a 3 mana 3/3 legendary Paladin minion. Text: ultimate. Divine shield. Rush. Whenever this deals damage, restore 1 health to all friendly characters. Card art: Brigitte holds up a transparent shield that is starting to crack as she pushes forward into gunfire. Her large extending whip mace is held in her right hand. As a squire to Reinhardt, she is similarly armored and also focused on close quarters melee combat. Rally, a 4 mana legendary Paladin spell. Text: choose a friendly minion. Give all friendly minions divine shield, then that minion attacks a random enemy. Art: Brig stands in the center of her teammates with her mace raised in the air like a torch, leading their charge into battle. Zarya, Bastion, Hanzo, and Pharah stand or fly around her while firing at their enemies.
July 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Torby Flenderson
sidisi.bsky.social
Blizzard provided 2 Lost City of Un'goro Bundles for me to giveaway to the Hunter community!
(1 here & 1 on ✖️ w much worse odds)

You get:
🦖60 Packs
🦖1 Card Back
🦖2 Random Legendaries

To enter:
🦖Follow @sidisi.bsky.social
🦖Repost

✅Winner drawn on July 7th.
Lost City bundle!
June 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
You've heard this a million times by now, rightfully so. I'm saying it too.

#BringHatBack

@ridiculous.chat has done exceptional work for Blizz over the last 2 years and it isn't exaggerating to say hiring him was the best decision they made in recent memory. Keeping him now would be the 2nd best.
July 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
I've been absolutely sucked into #BluePrince and finally earned the Full House trophy last night for completely filling the grid. Every time I play I find some new goal to work toward.

I know the game can feel very RNG heavy, but if you enjoy puzzle games I encourage you to stick with it!
The Full House trophy for drafting a room in every single open slot of your house. A layout of my completed house, along with my inventory and upgrades.
April 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
How nice of them to shadow drop the Oblivion remake right as we hit Nirnroot season.
It's skunk cabbage sprouting but I always thought it looked a bit like nirnroot from the Elder Scrolls games at this stage.
April 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Torbjorn is my namesake, but curiously not my main. Still, this guy has big mech pally synergy (let's pretend I tagged the turret minion type ok?). With his turret and molten core, he offers two huge ways to limit the enemy board. Also, you should try his meatballs. Bingo! #Overwatch x #Hearthstone
Torbjorn, 5 mana 5/5 Paladin legendary minion. Text - "Ultimate, battlecry: summon a 0/4 turret that deals 6 damage split among the lowest health enemies at the end of your turn." Art - torbjorn is a rather short muscular man with a forked braided beard down to his waist. One arm has a circular claw and the other a rivet gun. He has gear on his back that shoots flames which he presumably uses in building machinery. He has a gear tattoo on his bicep. Turret, a 2 mana 0/4 Paladin minion. Text "deal 6 damage split among the lowest health enemies at the end of your turn." Art - a double barreled gun on four legs. Above the legs is a rotation point so the gun can target the nearest enemy in any direction. Molten Core - a 4 mana legendary Paladin spell. Text "deal 3 damage to all enemy minions. Repeat at the end of your opponent's next turn." Art - blobs of lava litter the floor as bots travel through them, taking damage.
April 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
#Reinhardt is the quintessential Paladin and the easiest hero for me to assign to a class. As a tank with a big shield, he has lots of health, taunt, and divine shield. Clearly he needs charge because it's his most fun ability, while Earthshatter penetrates enemy defenses. #Overwatch x #Hearthstone
Reinhardt, 8 mana 6/10 legendary Paladin minion. Card text "Ultimate. Divine Shield, taunt, charge." Reinhardt is in a massive suit of armor with a lion emblazoned on the chest plate. He has white hair pulled up in a top knot and a big white beard. Earthshatter, 4 mana legendary Paladin spell. Text "choose an enemy minion. It and its neighbors go dormant for 1 turn." Art - Rein stands between massive open doors. He is smashing his large war hammer on the ground, causing fiery rifts that will knock down Hanzo and bastion.
April 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Things got busy and I stepped back from the Overwatch x Hearthstone cards, but I'm ready to keep going! Next up is Paladin, which is appropriate since I just hit legend for the month with Paladrassil (or Tree Pally if you're basic). This set features the trio of Reinhardt, Torbjorn, and Brigitte.
April 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
More #Hearthstone haikus in celebration of the Emerald Dream, this time on the official signature art for Aessina.

I'm thinking I might do an image for a couple more of them.
Aessina signature art, a face in the clouds between the spread branches of a large tree, so that it looks like someone resting their chin on their hands with their fingers on their cheeks. The blizzard logo is in the bottom left. In cursive at the top among the clouds I have added the haiku. "Oh sweet Aessina, please come over and put your Aessina my face."
March 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Thanks @stormraige23.bsky.social, @sendmeyourarms.bsky.social, and Teddo at Blizzlet for the Emerald Dream bundle! Had lots of fun writing #Hearthstone haikus for the new cards. Here's a taste:

It smells like Ursoc
What do you mean? What's Ursoc?
Ursoc my balls! Nice.
March 21, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Torby Flenderson
hstopdecks.bsky.social
We're giving away two Standard #Hearthstone Into the Emerald Dream Pre-Purchase Bundles (provided by Blizzard). To enter:

- Follow Us
- Repost
- Leave a comment with your favorite new card! (You can find them here: www.hearthstonetopdecks.com/into-the-eme...)

The giveaway ends on March 19.
March 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Torby Flenderson
alkalinekat.bsky.social
So thanks to Blizzard Entertainment I have a Into The Emerald Dream standard bundle to give away here!!! To enter like follow and repost. Winner will be drawn on 3/24 #hearthstone
March 10, 2025 at 11:06 PM
torbyflenderson.bsky.social
Lifeweaver is one of my most played heroes lately. A good weaver uses pull sparingly and has good timing. Similarly, his battlecry returns a friendly minion to hand, and as a bonus, they keep their enchantments. His tree, along with Sym's wall, gives mage survivability. #Overwatch x #Hearthstone.
Lifeweaver, 3 mana 3/3 legendary mage minion. Text - ultimate. Battlecry: return a friendly minion to your hand. It keeps any enchantments. Card art - lifeweaver kneels on one knee, holding his palm out. Light glows in his hand, as if he is shooting something out of his palm. He has a large flower strapped to his back. Life protects life, a 4 mana legendary mage spell. Text - summon a 0/8 tree of life with divine shield and "at the end of your turn, restore 3 health to all friendly characters." Card are - a large glowing white tree, made out of biolight, stands in front of lifeweaver who has his back to us. Tracer and sigma stand off to the left. Tree of life, legendary 3 mana 0/8 mage minion. Text - divine shield. At the end of your turn, restore 3 health to all friendly characters. Art - a large glowing tree made of biolight. Sparkling flecks of light fall like snowflakes from its branches.
March 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM