Abstract Due to their superior thermophysical properties, there is a growing body of work on nanofluids in the field of thermal systems. However, there is no specific review of the role of the nanoparticle shape, which has been found crucial to their performance adjustment. A comprehensive literature review of the effect of nanoparticle shape on the hydrothermal performance of thermal systems utilizing nanofluids was compiled. The review covered the forced, mixed, and natural convection regimes and included heat exchangers, boundary layer flows, channel flows, peristaltic flows, impinging jets, cavity flows, and flows of hybrid nanofluids. It indicated that the control of nanoparticle shape is a promising technique for the optimization of heat exchange and the required pumping power. However, no uniform conclusion was reached for the role of nanoparticle shape on the hydrothermal performance of thermal systems. In most of the previous studies in the natural and forced convection regimes, the platelet–like nanoparticle acquired the highest heat transfer rate. However, most of the works in the mixed convection regime reported the best heat transfer performance for the blade–like nanoparticle. More research studies are required in future to determine the role of nanoparticle shape for thermal management of energy systems.