KOEI TECMO America and Gust have announced The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, the first console game based on the popular anime and light novel franchise. Developed in collaboration with TOHO, the new mystery adventure is planned for release in early 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will tell an original story featuring new characters created under the supervision of series author Hyuganatsu. Players will once again take control of Maomao, the apothecary who works in the rear palace, as she becomes involved in a dangerous investigation surrounding several unexplained incidents.
The story centers on the Five Mysteries and Five Curses, a series of strange events and conspiracies affecting the rear palace, the pleasure district, and the capital. Maomao’s investigation brings her into contact with a masked man who claims to be the imperial younger brother. As she attempts to determine his identity and uncover the truth behind the incidents, the investigation leads toward a secret that could threaten the imperial court.
Maomao will be joined by familiar characters including Jinshi, the influential eunuch of the rear palace. The game will also introduce new characters, including Guanyu, a travelling actor whose reputation is beginning to spread throughout the capital.
Gameplay will focus heavily on investigation and deduction. Players will explore locations across the city and rear palace, search for clues, and speak with witnesses to collect information. Maomao can also travel outside the city to collect ingredients, which can then be used to create medicines that may provide evidence or help other characters.
Once enough information has been gathered, players will enter deduction sequences where Maomao examines the evidence and develops theories about the mysteries she is investigating. Players will need to select appropriate responses, consult Maomao’s notebook, present relevant evidence, and connect pieces of information together when challenged.
The more evidence players uncover during their investigation, the more options they will have when attempting to prove their deductions. This system will form the core of the game’s mystery-focused gameplay, combining exploration, evidence gathering, medicine crafting, and logical deductions.
KOEI TECMO plans to reveal more details about The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother during a special livestream from its Tokyo Game Show 2026 stage on Sept. 20. Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka, and Yohei Azakami, who voice Maomao, Jinshi, and Guanyu respectively, are scheduled to appear during the broadcast.
The game is currently in development and will feature Japanese voice acting with English text when it launches in early 2027.
