Shadow Kiku 3 is a regular weight, narrow, very high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, posters, logotypes, packaging, signage, retro, playful, bold, graphic, arcade, dimensionality, attention, retro flavor, signage feel, graphic impact, outlined, inline, beveled, octagonal, chamfered.
A compact, outlined display face built from straight, uniform strokes with rounded corners and frequent chamfered cuts that give many curves an octagonal feel. The letterforms are hollow with an inner contour that tracks the outer shape closely, and a consistent offset duplicate creates a hard-edged drop-shadow effect, adding depth without fill. Counters are generally squared-off, terminals are blunt, and joints stay crisp and geometric, producing a steady, mechanical rhythm across caps, lowercase, and numerals.
Best suited for short, high-impact text such as headlines, posters, event graphics, branding marks, packaging callouts, and signage where the outlined shadow effect can read clearly. It also fits UI/game titles and other retro-inspired display applications; for small sizes or dense copy, the open counters and double contours may feel busy compared with simpler faces.
The overall tone reads as retro and game-adjacent, with a poster-like punch and a slightly comic, dimensional flair. The shadowed outline suggests marquee signage and 80s/90s display lettering, giving the font an upbeat, attention-grabbing character.
The design appears intended to deliver a geometric, dimensional outline style that stays legible while emphasizing depth and personality. Its consistent shadow offset and chamfered geometry suggest a goal of evoking classic sign lettering and arcade-era display typography in a clean, reproducible system.
Caps have a strong, blocky presence, while the lowercase keeps the same construction with simplified bowls and angular joins that preserve the geometric theme. Numerals follow the same chamfered, outlined logic, helping mixed alphanumeric settings feel cohesive; the shadow direction remains consistent throughout, reinforcing the 3D illusion.