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.　©　2020