Summary
The Rising of the Shield Herois one of the most popular anime in recent anime seasons. It brings fans into the unfortunate story of Naofumi and how he goes from hopeful hero to disillusioned renegade. After being summoned to another world along with three other individuals, Naofumi is regarded as the great Shield Hero. Unfortunately, this gives him nothing but regret as he is framed, manipulated, and banished in the course of one night.
Naofumi is not the average isekai hero. He has to struggle to do the right thing, and sometimes fight his comrades who try to stand in his way. While Naofumi does find a few loyal friends along the way, he finds himself losing his humanity due to the way he is treated by the people of the world.The Rising of the Shield Herohas yet to air a new season, but there are many anime that match the tone and themes of the series that fans can watch right now. Here are some of the best isekai anime to watch if you loveThe Rising of the Shield Hero.
Updated June 20, 2025, by C. M. Edwards:The Rising of the Shield Herohas proven to be one of the best releases of Isekai anime over the course of its three seasons. The series does an excellent job of subverting the tropes of isekai anime and surprising fans with the twists and turns of the story. Naofumi’s journey from outcast to renegade and hero makes for an epic story that thousands of fans have tuned in to watch. With the announcement of the fourth season,The Rising of the Shield Herois on its way to returning. However, while fans wait, there are countless series that share some of the same themes and energy ofThe Rising of the Shield Heroto watch until the next season’s release.
Ken Usato is summoned to another world along with two of his popular classmates, arriving in a throne room where a king charges them with being the heroes to save the kingdom from the approaching demon lord army. Unfortunately for Usato, he was collateral damage and brought to the fantasy world by accident.
In a last-ditch effort to find some purpose in this new world, Usato discovers that he has an innate talent for a particular type of healing magic, which draws the attention of an unconventional captain named Rose. Things ramp up from there as Usato is drafted into the rescue team and put through rigorous training. Usato and Naofumi’s circumstances are incredibly similar, and the comical hijinks of each series match, so fans will enjoyThe Wrong way to use Healing Magic.
KonoSubais a lighthearted anime series where a recluse NEET is killed in a pathetic manner, only to be given the option of reincarnation in a magical fantasy world. Kazuma comes before a powerful goddess named Aqua, who gives him the option and a choice of any magical item to help him in his endeavors. Thinking tactically, Kazuma chooses the goddess as his companion, and they both head to the new world. However, unlikeKazuma’s expectations, living in a fantasy world is not sunshine and rainbows.
Much like Naofumi, the deeper Kazuma goes into the world, he realizes that it’s hard to make a living as an adventurer. BothKonoSubaandThe Rising of the Shield Herohave main characters that don’t directly play the hero, but become the hero nonetheless.
Touka was summoned to a magical world along with all of his classmates in order to become powerful heroes. One by one, each student received a magical ability and a rank based on their talent. Unfortunately, Touka was gifted a status ailment talent, which is seen as an undesirable ability in the magical world. Shockingly, the goddess that summoned the students reveals that the lowest ranked will be discarded, and Touka is banished to a hellish environment. Nearly dying, Touka makes the best of his ability, claws his way out of his surroundings, and swears vengeance on the goddess and the classmates who left him behind.
Both Naofumi and Touka were betrayed by those who brought them into their current circumstances. While Naofumi tried to stay vengeful, he was joined by friends who healed his heart. Touka, however, leaned into his anger and became the most substantial threat in his new world.
Uncle from Another Worldis a whimsical and wacky story about a middle-aged man who spent his younger years inside a magical fantasy world where he was an all-powerful warrior. Unfortunately, his time in the fantasy world was filled with misfortune due to his appearance, which made citizens in the new world think he was an orc.
Both Ojisan and Naofumi have similar experiences, as the world they are summoned to isn’t exactly inviting to them, but they both do their best with the cards they’ve been dealt.Uncle from Another Worldfollows Ojisan after he escapes the fantasy world and wakes up in the hospital, having aged considerably in his time away.
12
Streaming Services
Crunchyroll
William was reborn into a magical fantasy world and awoke as a child in the presence of a skeleton, a ghost, and a mummy. While this would typically be the end of the story, the monsters surrounding William take him in and raise them as their own. This sparks a series of events that turn William into an amazing adventurer and an amazing person.
Each parent teaches William the necessities to survive in his new world, making him skilled in magic, combat, and healing. As William comes of age, he must set out on his own and experience the world firsthand. Both Naofumi and William have unique individuals they surround themselves with and with whom they create a lasting bond of trust and loyalty.
In a new and different fantasy world, a power vacuum is created when the current demon lord is vanquished, leaving his position, title, and army vacant of leadership. Seeking to sieze power and control, a number of individuals sprint for a chance to take the previous demon king’s place and elevate their position. Enter Soujirou, a young man who is transported to this world at random and has his own desire to become the next demon king.
A battle royal ensues, as Soujirou takes on all comers. Fans of how Naofumi sometimes has to play the story’s villain to ensure the right thing gets done will definintely enjoyIshura.
Makoto was promised a beautiful goddess at birth to be his hero and champion humanity against the coming cataclysm. Unfortunately, the goddess is vain and rejects Makoto for his outward appearance. Instead, Makoto is banished from human civilization and forbidden from conversing with them entirely.
While down on his luck, Makoto finds a way to survive by befriending the local monster and demi-human population, and finding a family even among his struggles. Along the way, he also becomes one of the most powerful warriors in the land. Both Naofumi and Makoto have to deal with others negatively influencing how they live in the world they were brought to without a choice. Fans will enjoy the parallels betweenTsukimichiandThe Rising of the Shield hero.
Two young girls seeking a solution to their problem decide to invoke a ritual and summona powerful demon lordto their side. A young NEET in another world accidentally becomes the target of their spell while playing his favorite fantasy game.
He’s dragged into the fantasy world before the two girls, with the looks and abilities of his in-game character. Seeing an opportunity, he dawns his character’s name, Diablo, and charges the girls into his servitude in exchange for his help. Diablo is just a regular guy, just like Naofumi. However, he has a clear advantage over how he can handle those who try to do him harm.
Yuuya was not a popular young man, and most of the people around him treated him with unprovoked disdain. His life grows even darker when the only person who showed any care for Yuuya passes away. Hitting rock bottom, Yuuya finds a door into another world where he finds magical items that boost his skills, stats, and abilities to unrivaled levels.
Shockingly, Yuuya can travel back and forth between the worlds, and his skills and abilities remain intact. An instant change occurs in Yuuya’s life, and he suddenly is on top of the world. While the opposite happens to Naofumi inRising of the Shield Hero, they both obtain extremely powerful skills that set them apart from the rest of the world.
Sword Art Onlineis an anime that changed the face of isekai genre forever.Kiroto is the protagonist, trapped inside a virtual reality fantasy game, along with thousands of other players, by the game’s creator. Charged with climbing the game’s tower in order to make it out alive, average children must deal with the realization that if they die in the game, they die in real life.
With a large amount of experience in the game, Kirito sets out to leave his peers behind and get a jump start in leveling up. Through the years of being trapped, Kirito has several experiences that lead him to join the fight and help free the people trapped in the game. BothSword Art OnlineandRising of the Shield Herohave high stakes and intense combat surrounding the well-being of thousands of lives.
