Koei Tecmo, Gust, and Toho have announced The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, the first console game adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries.
The mystery adventure will launch in early 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
A New Case for Maomao
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother follows Maomao, a pleasure district apothecary now working in the rear palace.
This new story centers on the Five Mysteries and Five Curses, two strings of strange incidents and palace conspiracies spreading through the rear palace, the pleasure district, and the capital.
During the case, Maomao meets a masked man calling himself the “imperial younger brother,” pulling her into a plot that could threaten the imperial court.
Original Story From Hyuganatsu
The game features a new story and new characters conceptualized by series author Hyuganatsu.
Maomao will be joined by familiar characters like Jinshi, the influential eunuch of the rear palace. New characters include Guanyu, a traveling actor whose popularity is growing in the capital.
Investigation and Deduction
Players will explore crime scenes, the surrounding city, and the rear palace while gathering clues and interviewing witnesses.
Outside the city, Maomao can collect apothecary ingredients and make medicines that can serve as evidence or help her friends.
Once players have gathered enough information, they move into deduction phases. Maomao reviews clues, summarizes the facts, and presents her theory. Some arguments will require proof, so players will need to check Maomao’s notebook, choose the right evidence, and connect information to solve each case.
Tokyo Game Show Livestream Planned
Koei Tecmo will share more details during a special Tokyo Game Show 2026 livestream on September 20.
The broadcast will air from the Koei Tecmo stage and feature voice actors Aoi Yuki as Maomao, Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, and Yohei Azakami as Guanyu.
Coming in Early 2027
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother launches in early 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
