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DotGothic16
About DotGothic16
- Source
- Google Fonts ↗
- Classification
- display
- Weights
- 400
- Features
- Standard
Free to use, modify, and distribute. Can be used commercially without attribution.
What's allowed?
- ✓ Client work
- ✓ SaaS / Web apps
- ✓ YouTube / Video
- ✓ Sell products
- ✓ Print materials
Note: Derivative fonts must use the same license.
Full license guide →DotGothic16 is a pixel-style Japanese Gothic typeface by Fontworks Inc. that recreates the look of 16x16 bitmap fonts from early Japanese computing. Despite its retro pixel aesthetic, it is a modern vector font with full Japanese character coverage.
History and Design
Fontworks, a leading Japanese digital type foundry established in 1993, released DotGothic16 under the SIL Open Font License as part of their open-source initiative. The design references the 16-dot Gothic bitmap fonts that were ubiquitous on Japanese computers, cell phones, and video game consoles from the 1980s through early 2000s. Each character is constructed on a 16x16 grid, giving text that distinctive chunky, pixelated appearance.
Why DotGothic16 Stands Out
DotGothic16 is one of the few free pixel-style fonts with comprehensive Japanese character support. Most pixel fonts cover only Latin characters. DotGothic16 includes the full Adobe-Japan 1-3 character set — over 6,500 characters including kanji, hiragana, katakana, and symbols — making it uniquely suited for Japanese retro design projects.
Technical Features
- 16x16 pixel grid: Vector outlines that precisely recreate bitmap-era typography
- Full Japanese coverage: Adobe-Japan 1-3 character set (6,500+ characters)
- Multi-script support: Latin, Latin Extended, Cyrillic alongside Japanese
- Single weight: Regular (400) only — consistent with the bitmap aesthetic
Best Use Cases
DotGothic16 excels in:
- Retro gaming aesthetics: UI text for pixel art games and game-inspired projects
- Nostalgic branding: Products and events targeting retro gaming culture
- Event marketing: Gaming conventions, arcade-themed promotions
- Creative web design: Hero sections and headings with a retro digital feel
Usage Tips
Use DotGothic16 strictly for display purposes — headlines, titles, and short text where the pixel aesthetic is intentional. Avoid body text. The font works best at sizes where the pixel grid remains visible and crisp. Pair with a clean sans-serif like Inter or Noto Sans JP for body text.
Is DotGothic16 on Google Fonts?
Yes, DotGothic16 is available for free on Google Fonts. Get DotGothic16 on Google Fonts ↗
Compare DotGothic16
See how DotGothic16 compares to other fonts side by side.
How to Use DotGothic16
Copy these code snippets to quickly add DotGothic16 to your project.
CSS code for DotGothic16
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DotGothic16:wght@400&display=swap');HTML code for DotGothic16
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=DotGothic16:wght@400&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind code for DotGothic16
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'dotgothic16': ['DotGothic16', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-dotgothic16">Your text here</p>Next.js code for DotGothic16
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { DotGothic16 } from 'next/font/google';
const dotgothic16 = DotGothic16({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['400'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={dotgothic16.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'DotGothic16'" }}>Your text</p>Expo and React Native code for DotGothic16
// Install: npx expo install @expo-google-fonts/dotgothic16 expo-font
import { useFonts, DotGothic16_400Regular } from '@expo-google-fonts/dotgothic16';
export default function App() {
const [fontsLoaded] = useFonts({
DotGothic16_400Regular,
});
if (!fontsLoaded) return null;
return (
<Text style={{ fontFamily: 'DotGothic16_400Regular' }}>
Your text here
</Text>
);
}