My top 10 favorite plugins for Obsidian

TL;DR

Dataview (#1) turns Obsidian notes into queryable records by combining frontmatter values with SQL-like queries and Dataview JS.

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

Obsidian power users don’t need community plugins to get value from the app—but a curated set can turn scattered notes into flashcards, dashboards, automation, and searchable “databases.” Nicole van der Hoeven’s top 10 list prioritizes plugins that she uses daily, with Dataview at the center: a way to add structured frontmatter to notes anywhere in a vault and then query them with either SQL-like syntax or Dataview JS. The payoff is practical: gaming sessions become retrievable by town, meetings can pull up every prior mention of a person, and personal projects can be tracked like lightweight databases without adopting Notion’s database-first mindset.

The list starts with Space Repetition (#10), which brings spaced-repetition flashcards into Obsidian and makes creation fast through a simple syntax. Users type a prompt (for example, a Portuguese word followed by a delimiter like three colons) and tag the note; the plugin then generates paired cards for recall in both directions. Beyond convenience, it leans on the core spaced-repetition mechanism: cards marked “hard” reappear more often, while “easy” cards show up less frequently, keeping review timing aligned with memory decay. Her main use case is language learning, but the system is positioned as broadly useful.

For tabletop role-playing games, Initiative Tracker (#9) reduces the mental math that slows play. It can import TTRPG stat blocks, read character frontmatter so character data flows in automatically, and lets users adjust hit points, add conditions, and even define custom conditions—especially valuable for healers who need accurate, fast state tracking.

Obsidian Leaflet (#8) adds another layer of linking: it brings maps or images into Obsidian and lets users annotate them so parts become linkable. That supports dungeon-room navigation for games, but it also works for non-gaming diagrams—like zoomable architectural maps where labeled components link to supporting notes, or “global” team maps showing reporting lines and locations.

Dice Roller (#7) turns randomness into a workflow tool rather than just a game mechanic. It can randomly select from sets such as tables, notes, blocks, or paragraphs, and it can be constrained by tag so the randomness stays relevant. She uses it to inject variety into daily processing—randomly choosing a note from an inbox-style tag—while also using it to spark serendipity during learning.

Readwise Official (#6) automates capture of highlights from reading and social sources into an Obsidian vault. It’s an upgrade over a prior custom Python approach, and it supports formatting control so imported notes carry the tags she relies on for later processing.

Periodic Notes (#5) extends Daily Notes into weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly templates, letting her maintain separate personal and work systems that stay consistent across time.

Excalidraw (#4) adds visual thinking through drawings that can include icons, images, and embedded groups—helping her make connections even if she isn’t naturally “visual.”

QuickAdd (#3) and Templater (#2) form the automation backbone: QuickAdd triggers commands that log or create templated notes in one step, while Templater applies default formats based on note type or folder and can run JavaScript for deeper automation. Together, they make consistent note capture feel effortless.

Dataview (#1) is the clear culmination: it turns Obsidian notes into queryable records, making retrieval feel like a superpower across work, gaming, and personal tracking. With 63 plugins installed, she still calls Dataview the single best starting point for community plugins.

Cornell Notes

Nicole van der Hoeven’s top Obsidian plugin picks center on turning notes into structured, queryable, and automated systems. Dataview ranks #1 by letting users add frontmatter anywhere in a vault and then query notes using SQL-like syntax or Dataview JS, enabling fast retrieval for gaming, meetings, and personal tracking. Space Repetition (#10) adds spaced-repetition flashcards with quick creation via syntax and adaptive review based on “hard/easy” feedback. Initiative Tracker (#9), Obsidian Leaflet (#8), and Dice Roller (#7) support tabletop play, image-based linking, and controlled randomness. QuickAdd (#3) and Templater (#2) handle automation and consistent templates, while Readwise Official (#6) and Periodic Notes (#5) streamline capture and recurring planning.

Why does Dataview matter more than “just organizing notes” in Obsidian?

Dataview lets notes behave like records. It supports adding frontmatter values (e.g., type, date, location, or people) to notes placed anywhere in a vault, even if frontmatter wasn’t set up initially. Then it can query those notes using two approaches: an SQL-like syntax for straightforward filtering and Dataview JS for custom logic (iterating lists and applying conditional rules). That’s why it becomes useful across contexts—gaming queries can pull up everything tied to a town (shops, NPCs, and sessions), and meeting workflows can surface prior mentions of a person to show continuity and care.

How does Space Repetition make flashcard creation and review feel “built-in” rather than extra work?

Creation is fast because users define a syntax in settings and then type prompts directly in notes. In her example, she uses three colons as a delimiter: typing a Portuguese word followed by three colons and then the Spanish word, plus tagging the note (e.g., Portuguese), signals the plugin to generate two cards—one direction and the reverse. Review adapts over time: spaced repetition works by requiring feedback on difficulty, showing “hard” cards more frequently and “easy” cards less frequently, so the review curve matches memory decay.

What problem does Initiative Tracker solve for tabletop role-playing games?

It reduces the mental math that game masters and players perform during play. The plugin can import TTRPG stat blocks, read character frontmatter so character details are pulled in automatically, and then support gameplay updates like adjusting hit points and adding conditions. It also allows custom conditions, which she calls essential—especially when playing a healer who needs accurate, quickly updated status.

How can Obsidian Leaflet turn static images into navigable knowledge?

Leaflet imports maps or images into Obsidian and enables annotation so parts of the image become linkable. For gaming, that means linking dungeon rooms or areas to the notes that describe what’s there. For non-gaming use, she describes zoomable architectural diagrams where labeled components link to relevant notes, and even “global” team maps that clarify where people sit in an organization (reporting lines, countries lived in, and overall structure).

How does Dice Roller go beyond role-playing randomness?

Dice Roller randomly selects from a set that can be more than a dice table: it can pick from notes, blocks, or paragraphs inside notes. It also supports tag-based constraints, so randomness can stay targeted (e.g., only rolling among notes with a specific tag). She uses it in daily workflows—randomly selecting a note from an inbox-style tag to decide what to process next—and uses controlled randomness to spark serendipity during learning.

What roles do QuickAdd and Templater play together?

QuickAdd provides one-command automation: selecting a command can log something to Daily Notes or create a full note in a chosen folder using a specified template. Templater then enforces consistency by applying default formats for different note types (game sessions, meetings, people, daily notes) and can automatically apply templates based on folder location. It also supports running user JavaScript via Templater strings, enabling deeper automation. She highlights that the two work especially well in tandem—QuickAdd triggers the creation, and Templater ensures the note is formatted exactly as desired.

Review Questions

If you wanted to query notes about a specific person across months of meetings, which Dataview features would you rely on and why (frontmatter vs query language)?
Describe two different ways Space Repetition helps with language study: one about card creation and one about review timing.
Give an example of how you could use Dice Roller with tag constraints to improve a daily note workflow.

Key Points

1
Dataview (#1) turns Obsidian notes into queryable records by combining frontmatter values with SQL-like queries and Dataview JS.
2
Space Repetition (#10) speeds up flashcard creation using configurable syntax and generates paired cards for bidirectional recall.
3
Initiative Tracker (#9) streamlines tabletop play by importing TTRPG stat blocks, reading character frontmatter, and managing hit points and conditions.
4
Obsidian Leaflet (#8) makes images and maps navigable by letting annotated regions link directly to notes.
5
Dice Roller (#7) supports randomness across notes/blocks/paragraphs and can be constrained by tags to keep results relevant.
6
QuickAdd (#3) and Templater (#2) form an automation pipeline: one-command note creation plus consistent templates (including folder-based automation and JavaScript).
7
Readwise Official (#6) and Periodic Notes (#5) reduce friction by importing highlights into tagged notes and expanding Daily Notes into weekly through yearly planning.

Highlights

Dataview can query notes using both SQL-like syntax and Dataview JS, enabling “database-like” retrieval without adopting a database-first workflow.

Space Repetition’s workflow pairs fast syntax-based card creation with adaptive review frequency driven by “hard/easy” feedback.

Initiative Tracker can read character frontmatter and manage conditions and hit points, cutting down on in-game mental math.

Obsidian Leaflet turns maps and diagrams into linkable, zoomable navigation layers for both gaming and work documentation.

QuickAdd plus Templater can automate note creation and formatting so consistently that manual templating becomes unnecessary.

Topics

Obsidian Plugins
Dataview
Spaced Repetition
TTRPG Tools
Note Automation

Mentioned

Nicole van der Hoeven