10 Anime You Should Watch If You Like Sentenced To Be A Hero

Winter 2026 gave fans multiple great anime to enjoy. Shows like Frieren and Jujutsu Kaisen stayed on every fan’s weekly watchlist. While Oshi no Ko and Hell’s Paradise also received noticeable attention. Amidst these big names, Sentenced to Be a Hero also made a solid first impression in front of fans.

The anime’s great animation, engaging plot, and intriguing characters have given fans a lot to look forward to. But with the anime’s first season coming to an end soon, it will be a while before they can see more of Xylo’s journey. While they wait, these 10 similar anime should entertain them equally. Each anime shares similarities in terms of plot or themes with Sentenced To Be A Hero.

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Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is a story where legendary warriors from the past are summoned to fight in the Holy Grail War. Every leading character summons a type of warrior that assists, defends, and fights with them in battle. Though plot-wise, it is drastically different from Sentenced to Be a Hero. The concept of summoned warriors is comparable to Goddesses.

Goddesses, similar to the summoned warriors, assist their Knights. Often with unique, powerful abilities and skills, they have an overwhelming impact on the battle. This is seen as early as Episode 1, when Teoritta, the goddess of swords, summons a substantial amount of swords to assist Xylo.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Smile

That Time I Got Reincarnated has become a long-running, beloved series today. It is an Isekai, where a middle-aged man, after getting stabbed, reincarnates into a new magical world as a Slime. After befriending an almighty dragon, he goes on a journey to understand the world and help others.

On the surface, Rimuru’s story does not seem to be even remotely close to Xylo’s. But as the anime continues, similarities start to appear. Both anime have religious institutions working in the background for their own benefit. These institutions defame what seems to be a threat to their power and manipulate various organizations to meet their needs.

Cautious Hero

Cautious Hero is a comedic fantasy where the protagonist barely ever faces real danger. But on the other hand, Sentenced To Be A Hero has a largely serious tone where often people’s lives are at risk. Despite this fundamental difference, the two share similarities in their leading duos.

In Sentenced To Be A Hero, Xylo is accompanied by a goddess-like figure named Teoritta. Similarly, in Cautious Hero, Seiya is accompanied by the goddess named Ristarte. Both protagonists are quiet and usually let their actions do the talking. While the goddesses are cheerful and earnestly guiding their respective heroes. Also, the heroes’ attitude is immensely affected by their past.

Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is possibly one of the most popular anime of the past ten years. With a plot and cast so diverse, it has several elements that will make it a great watch for Sentenced To Be A Hero fans. Firstly, the theme of discrimination lies in both anime. In Attack on Titan, Eldians are looked down upon by the rest of the world. Similarly, heroes like Xylo are immediately looked down on without any further thought.

Also, just as Marley often looks at the Warrior Units as mere tools/weapons, the Church also treats the goddesses in the same way. They were willing to discard Teoritta if she had proved to be useless to them. Eren and Xylo also share a similar emotion of avenging something or someone.

The Executioner and Her Way of Life

Despite their obvious differences in plot, the two anime share a thematic resemblance. In The Executioner and Her Way of Life, the heroes are summoned from different worlds by the royalty. But they are seen as a threat by the Church because of the disasters they caused in the past, and hence are executed. Both anime have a distaste for heroes. Also, the appearance of heroes who are a threat is comparable to the appearance of fairies, who are a threat to the world.

Re: Zero

Subaru’s story starts as he is transported to a fantasy world. A mysterious girl helps him, and he ends up helping her in a commission. But when the two are tragically murdered, he goes back in time so he can fix things. Though they have their obvious differences, Xylo and the other heroes have similar powers.

When they are killed, they don’t die. Instead, they get revived and are forced to continue the grueling life of a Hero. But this power comes at a cost, as suggested by Xylo in Episode 1. Every time they are reborn, they lose a part of themselves. Ultimately, they lose their sanity and identity.

Akame ga Kill!

Akame ga Kill’s Night Raid is an assassination squad that rebels against the ruling party. Despite their righteous intent, they are portrayed as dangerous and evil. Similarly, heroes are individuals who receive the hero penalty. Though society considers them to be the worst criminals, in truth, they are just individuals who pose a threat to the Church.

To protect itself, the Church pushes these individuals into dangerous situations. The two anime also share tragic character deaths. Initially seen as villains, the protagonists’ morality and righteousness lead to a change of heart in various interacting characters.

86

The world of 86 tells a tale of discrimination, identity, and war. Similar to Sentenced to Be a Hero, the ruling party enforces propaganda at the cost of a section of people. These people are sent to war with little regard for their lives. Both anime also have characters that are closer to the truth and work directly with the discriminated ones. In 86, that character is Vladilena Milize, and in Sentenced to Be a Hero, it is Patausche Kivia.

Hell’s Paradise

Hell’s Paradise is about Gabimaru, who has lived a life of crime. His hopes of dying are paused when he is sent on a mission with other criminals, which would pardon their sins. When compared to Sentenced to Be a Hero, both protagonists are haunted by their actions from the past. They seem unfazed by death. There are elements of immortality, and “criminals” are used as tools for attaining a greater objective.

The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero is the best anime to watch after you are done with Sentenced to Be a Hero. Both shows have a main character who is seen as a villain by the rest of the world. They’re trapped in a situation where they are forced to fight for the people they despise, but they hope to eventually break this facade and avenge the wrong they faced. They also have close companions who see them for who they really are and support them. Xylo’s protectiveness and growing care for Teoritta are also comparable to Naofumi’s care for Raphtalia.

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These anime carry the essence of Sentenced to be a Hero in one way or another. Through similar characters and premises, they tend to focus on similar themes and relationships. Are there any other shows that remind you of Xylo’s ongoing journey?