# Oblique Strategies SE — Creative Prompts for Artists

> Digital deck of inspirational phrases for creative problem-solving. (iPhone/iPad app by Nicolae Gherasim.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies-se/id1104927011 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nicolae Gherasim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437386557)
- Category: Productivity, Music
- Price: $3.99
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 540 App Store ratings · 40 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-05-16
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies-se/id1104927011/reviews.md

## What is Oblique Strategies SE?

Oblique Strategies SE is a premium, distraction-free environment for the 1975 Brian Eno/Peter Schmidt cards. Optimized for modern workflows while remaining faithful to the analog soul of the original deck.

Oblique Strategies is a deck of cards, each with a thought-provoking phrase to break routine thinking and encourage fresh perspectives. This digital edition brings the original and new decks to your fingertips, in a sleek, minimalist style true to the classic design.

Key Features:

• 100+ original and new Oblique Strategies cards
• Minimalist, distraction-free interface
• Daily inspiration with Home Screen widgets
• Works on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac
• Apple Watch app runs independently
• VoiceOver support for accessibility
• Shake your device for a new prompt
• Long tap to repeat the last phrase
• No data collected—privacy first

Whether you’re making art, writing, composing music, or brainstorming, Oblique Strategies SE is your pocket tool for creative breakthroughs.

One card to change your entire perspective - get started now.

## Key features

- 100+ original and new cards
- Minimalist, distraction-free interface
- Daily inspiration widgets
- Multi-device support (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac)
- Shake for new prompt
- VoiceOver support

## Chart rankings

- #76 in Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

## What do users think of Oblique Strategies SE?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 💡 Innovative creative problem-solving tool
- ✨ Minimalist, clean interface design
- 🎨 Effective for breaking creative blocks
- 📱 Widget functionality for home screen
- 🎵 Particularly valuable for musicians and creators
- 🔄 Multiple card deck versions available
- ⚡ Simple and intuitive to use
- 🎯 Gentle, non-intrusive approach to inspiration
- 📚 Faithful to original Eno/Schmidt concept

**Cons**

- 🔄 Excessive card repetition in random selection
- 🐛 Widget functionality issues and glitches
- 🔋 Battery drain reported by some users
- 🎨 Dark mode widget support inconsistent
- ⚙️ Widget doesn't auto-sync with app
- 📊 Limited customization options
- 🎬 Flashing/shuffle animation between cards
- 🤔 Unclear menu navigation and dismissal

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Widget displays blank/doesn't load properly
- Battery drain issue (iOS 14.0.1)
- Widget doesn't rotate or update automatically
- Dark mode not fully supported in widgets
- App continues draining battery even after force quit
- Color accuracy issue (white on gray vs. black background)
- Splash screen appears unnecessarily on app launch

**Most requested features**

- Custom user-created cards functionality
- Blank card option
- Widget auto-refresh/shuffle without app opening
- Sequential card selection (no repeats until deck exhausted)
- Widget dark mode auto-switching with iOS settings
- Smaller widget size option
- Card history/undo feature
- Lock card in place option
- Widget and app card synchronization
- Ability to disable shuffle on app return

## Recent user reviews (10 of 40)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oblique-strategies-se/id1104927011/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Updated?

*2026-04-05*

Does this update include the newest cards? I know the blurb says it’s been updated. The fediverse bot seems to have a lot more cards I’ve never seen in the iOS app.  Still the best logjam breaker that seems to be tilted towards musicians. Dunno if the knockoffs can say the same.

### 5/5 — The gentlest push

*2026-04-05*

The creative process is more fragile than people admit. Not dramatically fragile — not the romantic collapse of the tortured artist. Quietly fragile. A line that won't extend itself. A chord that knows something is wrong but won't say what. The white resistance of a canvas that has decided, for now, not to cooperate.

I've tried many things in those moments. Walking away. Forcing through. Asking someone. None of it feels quite right, because the problem isn't information — it's perspective. You're too close. You've been staring at the thing so long it has stopped being a thing and become a wall.

Oblique Strategies understands this at a level most creative tools don't bother with. It doesn't optimize you. It doesn't gamify your output or track your streaks or tell you that you've been 43% more productive this week. It gives you a card. One sentence. Sometimes cryptic, sometimes uncomfortably obvious, occasionally so precise it feels like someone has been watching over your shoulder for the past two hours.

Eno and Schmidt built the original deck in 1975 for exactly these moments — for the studio, for the deadlock, for the 3am session where everything sounds like furniture. The iOS version carries that spirit without diluting it. No noise. No dashboard. Just the card, and the silence around it.

You don't have to do what it says. That's almost the point. The value isn't in the instruction — it's in the sudden awareness that there was another direction all along. The push is so gentle you barely feel it. But the room shifts.

Worth every cent for anyone who makes things and occasionally, inevitably, gets stuck.

### 5/5 — Great to kickstart a stuck mind

*2026-02-23*

Any card you see will cause you to have a new perspective on whatever difficulty you perceive.

### 5/5 — OS

*2025-12-28, version 10.5*

It's Oblique Strategies for the iPhone

### 5/5 — Thanks, DB and BE

*2025-09-10, version 10.2*

Essential.

### 3/5 — Needs customization

*2024-10-09*

You’re missing the blank card. That’s the most important. Please add a feature for adding cards of our own.

### 3/5 — Support Black Background Widget!

*2024-09-18*

Please support black background widgets! Ive had this app as a big widget on my home screen for years. Just wish it could be white text on black. It seems that’s only supported when entering the app, but not for widgets.

**Developer response:** Thank you for review. You can do that by adding the black background widget… it is the last one from the three widgets option.

### 5/5 — love the widgets

*2024-08-11, version 9.1*

would love to see a smaller widget option tho

### 3/5 — Improved widget

*2024-05-28*

The app is great and functional - and I love that there’s a widget! Just wish it was more functional. It doesn’t seem to rotate strategies or give you an option to refresh it. Only deleting the widget and then re-adding is what seems to switch it up, which is cumbersome.

This would be the most useful widget in the App Store if it was a little more dynamic, I want to shuffle it easily as I flick thru my home screens between other tasks….please fix!!

**Developer response:** Great idea, thank you for the feedback. Currently the widgets are changing automatically approximately twice a day.

### 5/5 — 💯🧠🪄💽

*2024-05-19, version 8.9*

Ways to think ..🧐

## Frequently asked questions about Oblique Strategies SE

### What is Oblique Strategies SE?

Oblique Strategies SE is a digital application that provides a collection of over 100 thought-provoking phrases, inspired by the original Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt cards. It's designed to help users break routine thinking and discover fresh perspectives for creative endeavors.

### What are the key features of Oblique Strategies SE?

Key features include access to over 100 original and new Oblique Strategies cards, a minimalist and distraction-free interface, daily inspiration through Home Screen widgets, and compatibility with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Users can also shake their device for a new prompt and utilize VoiceOver support.

### How much does Oblique Strategies SE cost?

Oblique Strategies SE is a premium application, meaning it requires a one-time purchase to download and use. The app does not have in-app purchases or advertisements.

### What devices is Oblique Strategies SE compatible with?

The app is designed to work across the Apple ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The Apple Watch app is capable of running independently.

### Who would benefit from using Oblique Strategies SE?

This app is ideal for anyone involved in creative work, such as making art, writing, composing music, or brainstorming. It's particularly useful for individuals experiencing creative block or seeking new ways to approach their projects.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 10.9 — 2026-06-22

This update improves overall performance and stability with bug fixes and refinements to deliver a smoother creative experience. We’ve also made visual improvements and enhanced reliability across devices.

### 10.8 — 2026-05-18

Crafting the experience. Every update is a step toward perfection. In this version, we have polished the "Liquid Glass" interface to be even more seamless and non-intrusive.
We’ve refined the app’s performance and interaction feel, ensuring the technology stays out of your way so you can focus entirely on the work.
• Smoother interface transitions.
• Refined visual clarity.
• Optimized for a distraction-free experience.

### 10.7 — 2026-03-20

Crafting the experience. Every update is a step toward perfection. In this version, we have polished the "Liquid Glass" interface to be even more seamless and non-intrusive.

We’ve refined the app’s performance and interaction feel, ensuring the technology stays out of your way so you can focus entirely on the work.
• Smoother interface transitions.
• Refined visual clarity.
• Optimized for a distraction-free experience.

### 10.6 — 2026-01-03

Unlock fresh inspiration - now rebuilt for iOS 26 with the stunning new Liquid Glass design.

Get creative faster with interactive widgets (iOS 17+) that deliver instant prompts directly on your Home Screen or Lock Screen. Just tap to refresh - no need to open the app.
Enjoy a faster, more responsive Apple Watch app, with improved syncing and reliability - your creative companion for art, design, music, and writing, wherever you are.
Fully optimised for iOS 26, this update takes advantage of Apple’s latest technologies and the elegant Liquid Glass interface for a smooth, modern experience.
We’ve also polished and refined the app with visual improvements, performance enhancements, and bug fixes, making it more stable, cleaner, and more inspiring than ever.

Thank you for your creativity and continued support. Keep breaking blocks.

### 10.5 — 2025-11-22

Unlock fresh inspiration - now fully optimised for iOS 26 and the new Liquid Glass design.

Interactive Widgets (iOS 17+): Get instant creative prompts right from your Home Screen or Lock Screen. Just tap to refresh - no need to open the app.
Faster Apple Watch App: Smoother, more responsive, and better synced - your portable muse for ideas in art, design, music, and writing.
iOS 26-Ready: Rebuilt to take advantage of Apple’s latest technologies and the elegant new Liquid Glass interface for a fluid, modern experience.
Polished & Refined: Visual fixes, performance improvements, and a cleaner interface make the app faster, more stable, and more inspiring than ever.

Thank you for your creativity and continued support. Keep breaking blocks.

## Apps similar to Oblique Strategies SE

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Justinmind](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justinmind/id891264087) | 3.3 (15) | Free | Productivity |
| [Milanote](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/milanote/id1433852790) | 4.7 (3,731) | Free | Productivity |
| [Naze: Social Media Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naze-social-media-blocker/id6474093604) | 4.8 (404) | Free | Productivity |
| [Idea Dive: Spark Creativity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-dive-spark-creativity/id6502371892) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Productivity |
| [Smaato Ad Preview](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smaato-ad-preview/id6475342855) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Scribble Storm Notes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scribble-storm-notes/id1536452380) | 4.5 (14) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Nicolae Gherasim

- [Barcode Generator Unlimited](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-generator-unlimited/id1254365251)
- [Cardiogram - HR Monitor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardiogram-hr-monitor/id1437386558)
- [Cocktail Manual: Drink Recipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cocktail-manual-drink-recipes/id1443813704)
- [Sunrise Sunset Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-sunset-tracker/id1455218195)
- [Sketch Ideas - Art Prompts](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketch-ideas-art-prompts/id1460774857)

All apps by Nicolae Gherasim: https://appshunter.io/developer/1437386557

## Related topics

[oblique strategies](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oblique-strategies) · [oblique strategies se](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oblique-strategies-se) · [oblique strategies pro cards](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oblique-strategies-pro-cards) · [oblique strategies ritual](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oblique-strategies-ritual) · [oblique strategies sideways](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/oblique-strategies-sideways) · [brian eno](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/brian-eno)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*