The series' first video game features a completely new story from original author Hyuganatsu.
Fans of popular anime The Apothecary Diaries are definitely eating good in 2027. Aside from the upcoming second cour of Season 3, they will soon get the chance to solve new mysteries as Maomao themselves, with The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother bringing the popular series to consoles and PC in early 2027.
The mystery adventure game was shown during the Nintendo Direct on Wednesday (9 September), marking the first console game based on The Apothecary Diaries. Rather than retelling a story from the light novels, manga, or anime, the game will feature a completely new scenario based on an original concept by series author Hyuganatsu.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will launch for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in early 2027, with Japanese voice acting and English subtitles available.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother
Release date: Early 2027
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam
Developer: Koei Tecmo
What is The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother about?
The new story once again puts Maomao's knowledge of medicine and sharp eye for detail at the centre of an investigation, this time involving a series of incidents surrounding the mysterious "Five Mysteries" and "Five Curses".
Along the way, Maomao encounters a masked man claiming to be the "imperial younger brother". Her investigation eventually begins pointing towards a secret with the potential to shake the imperial court itself.
The announcement trailer also brings back plenty of familiar faces, including Jinshi, Gaoshun, Gyokuyou, Lihua, and Xiaolan. Their appearances may even offer a hint as to when The False Imperial Brother takes place. Koei Tecmo has not confirmed exactly where the new story fits into The Apothecary Diaries timeline, but the presence of characters such as Xiaolan suggests its events could fall somewhere within the period covered by the first two anime seasons, and their corresponding material in the manga and light novels, rather than after Season 2.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother gameplay
The False Imperial Brother is a mystery adventure built around investigation and deduction. Players will explore locations connected to each case, search for evidence, interview witnesses, and use Maomao's observational skills to pick out details that might otherwise be overlooked. Some sections will also take Maomao beyond the city as she searches for medicinal ingredients.
Fans of the anime and manga will also spot plenty of familiar visual gags in the trailer. One of the most unmistakably Maomao moments comes when she finds a patch of greenery packed with medicinal herbs, complete with stars in her eyes, a suddenly cat-like expression, and even cat ears seemingly sprouting from her hair. This time, though, players can actually gather those herbs themselves while exploring as Maomao.
After gathering enough information, players move into deduction sequences where Maomao pieces together the evidence, exposes contradictions, and presents proof to challenge the people involved. The trailer shows her returning to crime scenes, connecting clues, and catching characters in lies, including one suspect whose testimony reveals knowledge they should not have had.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother heads to Tokyo Game Show 2026
Koei Tecmo will show more of The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother during a Tokyo Game Show 2026 stage livestream on 20 September. Japanese voice actors Aoi Yuki, who plays Maomao, Takeo Otsuka, who voices Jinshi, and Yohei Azakami, who voices Guanyu, are also scheduled to appear.
The Apothecary Diaries fans will have plenty to look forward to beyond the game, with Season 3 beginning this October, a movie arriving on 11 December, and a live-action adaptation planned for 2028.
Missed the show? Catch up on the biggest reveals and trailers from Nintendo Direct September 2026.
