One of the most-watched anime series this winter is The Rising of the Shield Hero. The program centers on Naofumi Iwatani, a college student who finds herself abruptly forced into a brand-new setting to play the part of the shield hero. He finds himself horribly deceived by his sole allies and left to fend for himself in a foreign country after already being despised for a position he didn’t choose. You may be looking for anime that is comparable to The Rising of the Shield Hero if you enjoy what it has to offer. If so, the suggestions on this list are excellent.
The majority of anime, including The Rising of the Shield Hero, belong to the isekai subgenre. Isekai anime transports the protagonists to a brand-new, fantastical realm after removing them from their customary location, which is typically their lives on Earth. Unsurprisingly, many of these characters are gamers who would fit right in with the virtual worlds they will have to live in.
However, adapting to a new environment is far from simple, just like in The Rising of the Shield Hero. It can be difficult, as demonstrated by shows like Re:Zero, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Themes from The Rising of the Shield Hero can be found in a variety of anime, including My Teen Romantic Comedy. SNAFU is a high school club anime, but Naofumi and the protagonist have the same anger and social betrayal experience.
1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
It’s not always what one hopes or expects when they are taken to another realm. In Naofumi’s case, the issue is that he is compelled to live at the bottom of his new society as a result of a string of betrayals and misunderstandings, leaving him with little choice but to attempt to save the world in any case if he ever wishes to return home. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime takes a much lighter approach to this idea by having the protagonist get reincarnated into a magical realm as a slime rather than a dragon, a warrior, or any cool-looking character. Despite their challenges, Naofumi and Rinmaru will both learn to thrive in their new circumstances.
2. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
Bell Cranel is a native of his magical world, unlike Naofumi, yet the tasks he must do are rather similar. He begins as a weakling who must develop strength through a system of “levelling up” like to that found in video games. He must also assemble a band of allies to aid him. It’s a long and bumpy journey to get there, but in the end he gains a lot more strength and competence.
3. Overlord
Momonga chooses to stay connected to the server for the duration of his favourite online game’s closure. Instead of being expelled as he anticipates, he finds himself being transported to a real-world version of the game as his character, the dark wizard in charge of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild. The environment continues to function in a way that is similar to a video game, but the inherent risks have significantly risen. Similar to Naofumi’s situation, both of them must adjust to a fantasy world akin to a video game, and they both begin as “villains,” though Naofumi’s is not by choice.
4. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord is about an isekai scenario gone awry, like like Shield Hero. Takuma Sakamoto is a recluse who spends all of his time levelling up his Demon King Diablo MMO character. One day, two girls try to use a magic to make him their slave and summon him into the game’s realm. The enchantment backfires, and they are instead compelled to serve him. Another thing the two shows have in common is their willingness to tackle contentious subjects like slavery, though how well they do so is debatable.
5. No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro, like Naofumi, are otaku who don’t fit in with society and are forced to adapt to a game-like reality. Because Sora and Shiro are significantly less adept at surviving in the actual world than Naofumi is, they are much more readily accepted by the magical one. While Sora and Shiro are worried and socially awkward and almost ever leave their bedrooms, Naofumi is a typical college student with nerdy interests. While Sora and Shiro use their gaming prowess to acquire the respect of everyone around them in the new world, Naofumi is immediately attacked. If you adore Rising of the Shield Hero’s premise but want a different perspective, check out No Game No Life.
6. Re:Zero
If what appeals to you about The Rising of the Shield Hero is its willingness to get seriously dark, then you might like Re:Zero. When Subaru Natsuki is transported to a magical world, pretty much nothing goes right for him. He’s immediately robbed and assaulted, and actually loses his life – but finds that he has a mysterious ability that helps him rewind time and survive. Life in the new world won’t be easy for Subaru, and if he wants to survive, he’ll have to live by his wits and by the help of his allies.
7. KonoSuba
Re:Zero may appeal to you if The Rising of the Shield Hero’s propensity to go genuinely dark appeals to you. Almost nothing goes well for Subaru Natsuki as he is taken to a magical realm. He is assaulted, robbed, and nearly killed right away, but he discovers a mysterious power that allows him to turn back time and live. Subaru’s life in the new world won’t be simple, and if he wants to survive, he’ll need the assistance of his friends and his wits.
8. Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
In Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions, a group of people who have no recollection of their previous life are abruptly transferred to a fantastical realm. They must enlist in the military to survive. The weakest members of the group are left behind by the stronger members of the group who form a group and leave them to fend for themselves. This is comparable to the predicament Naofumi finds himself in when he first arrives in Melromarc: being the weakest member of his group, he is almost immediately shunned and compelled to act alone.
9. One-Punch Man
The main issue Naofumi has is that people have no idea who he is. The poor person gets no respect at all because he is falsely accused of terrible crimes, assumed to be weak and pitiful before he has a chance to prove himself, and is generally spat upon by society. Saitama, One-Punch Man’s protagonist, may also say the same thing. Even though he is the strongest person in his universe and devotes all of his strength to helping others, he is nevertheless thought to be unprofessional, weak, and pitiful despite several instances in which he proves the opposite. Even while it doesn’t completely ruin his life like it does Naofumi’s, this is still a huge inconvenience.
10. Saga of Tanya the Evil
Being X, the universe’s equivalent of God, decides to attempt to prove their existence after a salaryman challenges them to a debate over whether or not they exist. They accomplish this by reincarnating him as Tanya, a young girl who begins her life in danger in the hopes that she will pray to God for assistance. Tanya has no interest in any of that, and she finally achieves control through her new magical world’s military, making whatever and whoever sacrifices she must in the process.
Rising of the Shield Hero and Saga of Tanya the Evil have some characteristics, including a protagonist who is forcibly sent to a different planet against their choice, intellectual protagonists who can live by their wits, and a gradual rise to power. You’ll probably enjoy both if you enjoy one.
11. The Tower of Druaga
Like pretty much everyone else in his realm, Jil is a youthful explorer who longs to ascend the Tower of Druaga. He finds it challenging to fit in with the other adventurers because he lacks experience and can only defend himself with a shield. He doesn’t feel as severely betrayed as Naofumi does, but he nonetheless faces many of the same issues. Give this underappreciated show a try if you’re seeking for another fantasy anime with a strong female lead.
12. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU might become your new favorite program if what drew you to Rising of the Shield Hero was the protagonists’ cynical outlook on human society but you could care less about the entire fantasy world thing. Hachiman Hikigaya is jaded and pessimistic like Naofumi since he is so used to being misled by others. He suffers when it’s expected of him to be emotionally exposed and won’t let himself become close to anyone. While Hikigaya starts the series that way and gradually tries to move past it, viewers get to see Naofumi truly make that transformation.