10 Anime You Should Watch If You're Sentenced To Be A Hero

Winter 2026 gave fans a lot of great anime to enjoy. Shows like Frieren and Jujutsu Kaisen remained on every fan's weekly watchlist. While Oshi no Ko and Hell's Paradise have also gained attention. Among these big names, Sentenced to become a hero Also made a solid first impression in front of the fans.

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

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Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

Destiny/Stay Knight: Unlimited Blade Works is a story where legendary warriors from the past are summoned to fight in the Holy Grail War. Each main character summons a type of warrior that helps, protects and fights with them in battle. However plot-wise, it's quite different from punishment to being a hero. The concept of summoned warriors is comparable to goddesses.

Goddesses, like summoned warriors, aid their knights. Often with unique, powerful abilities and skills, they have a heavy impact on war. This appears in Episode 1, when Teoritta, the goddess of swords, summons enough swords to aid Xylo.

At that time I was reborn as a smile

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

On the surface, Rimuru's story doesn't even seem close to Xylo's. But as the anime continues, similarities begin to emerge. Both anime have religious institutions working in the background for their own benefit. These organizations discredit any perceived threat to their power and manipulate various institutions to suit their needs.

Beware hero

A cautious hero is a comic fantasy where the hero never faces real danger. But on the other hand, Sentenced to be a Hero has a largely serious tone where people's lives are often at risk. Despite this fundamental difference, the two share similarities in their lead pair.

In Sentenced to Be a Hero, Xylo is accompanied by a goddess-like figure named Teoritta. Similarly, in the wary hero, Seya is accompanied by a goddess named Ristarte. Both protagonists are quiet and generally let their actions do the talking. While the goddesses are cheerfully and earnestly guiding their respective heroes. Also, the protagonists' attitudes are heavily influenced by their past.

Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan is probably one of the most popular anime of the past ten years. With a plot and cast so diverse, it has many elements that make it a great watch for punishment for hero fans. First, the theme of discrimination is present in both anime. In Attack on Titan, the Aldians are despised by the rest of the world. Similarly, heroes like Xylo are seen instantly without any thought.

Also, just as Marley sees warrior units as mere tools/weapons, the Church treats goddesses the same way. They were willing to abandon Teoritta if she proved useless to them. Eren and Xylo also share the same feeling of getting revenge on something or someone.

The executioner and his way of life

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

Zero again

Subaru's story begins when he is transported to a fantasy world. A mysterious girl helps him, and he helps her with a commission. But when the two are tragically murdered, he goes back in time so he can fix things. Although they have obvious differences, Xylo and the other heroes have similar powers.

When they are killed, they do not die. Instead, they are revived and forced to continue the hero's miserable life. But this power comes at a cost, as suggested by Xylo in episode 1. Each time they reincarnate, they lose a part of themselves. Eventually, they lose their sanity and identity.

Akame ga Kill!

Akame ga Kill's Night Raid is an assassination team that rebels against the ruling party. Despite their religious intentions, they are portrayed as dangerous and evil. Likewise, heroes are individuals who receive hero penalties. Although society considers them to be the worst criminals, in fact, they are the only people who pose a threat to the church.

To protect itself, the church pushes these people into dangerous situations. The two anime also share tragic character deaths. Initially seen as a villain, the hero's morals and righteousness lead to a change of heart in the various characters he interacts with.

86

The world of 86 tells a story of discrimination, identity and war. As if sentenced to become a hero, the ruling party preaches at the expense of a section of the people. These men are sent to war without regard for their lives. Both anime also have characters that are close to the truth and work directly with those who are discriminated against. In 86, that character is Vladilena Millijs, and in Sentenced to Be a Hero, it's Patoushe Kivia.

hell's heaven

Hell's Heaven is about Gabimaru, who has led a life of crime. His hopes of death are put on hold when he is sent on a mission with other criminals, who will atone for their sins. Compared to Sentenced to be a Hero, both heroes are haunted by their past actions. They seem unfazed by death. There are elements of immortality, and “criminals” are used as tools to achieve a greater purpose.

Rise of the SHIELD hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero is the perfect anime to watch after you're done with Sentence to Be a Hero. Both shows have a main character who the rest of the world sees as a villain. They are trapped in a situation where they are forced to fight for the people they hate, but they hope to eventually break this mask and avenge the wrongs they have faced. They also have close friends who see them for who they really are and support them. Xylo's protectiveness and growing care for Teoritta is also comparable to Naofumi's care for Raphtalia.