The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother comes to consoles and PC with a new 3D mystery adventure by Gust and Koei Tecmo. Read on to learn more about other details here.
Apothecary Diaries Switch 2 Game Written by Hyuuganatsu
New Original Story Arrives in Early 2027
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is set to launch in early 2027 across Steam, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and the PlayStation 5. The Apothecary Diaries' first console title was featured at the Nintendo Direct, with its story and characters notably conceptualized by series author Hyuuganatsu. Store listings have already gone live following the announcement, alongside confirmation that the game is being developed by Gust, the team behind the Atelier series, in cooperation with TOHO Co., Ltd.
Players step into the shoes of Maomao as she gathers ingredients and untangles court mysteries. The False Imperial Brother revolves around the "Five Mysteries" and "Five Curses," introducing new characters like Guanyu (Yohei Azakami) alongside the main duo, Maomao (Aoi Yuki) and Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka).
While fans could previously play as Maomao in a browser and mobile simulation game called "The Apothecary Diaries: Palace Chronicles", released on G123 in June 2026, that game offered a casual, auto-play-driven experience. The False Imperial Brother marks the franchise's official debut as a larger title on consoles and PC, elevating the series into a full-scale 3D mystery-adventure game.
Be an Apothecary and Detective All at Once
The gameplay loop has players exploring both the rear palace and the surrounding capital to gather clues, interview witnesses, and collect ingredients to craft medicine through Maomao's notebook. Once enough evidence has been gathered, players move into a deduction phase, where they'll need to select the right answers, get relevant evidence, and combine information to challenge witnesses and suspects as they contrast Maomao's theories.
At this time of writing, discussions surrounding the game are circulating various social media platforms, with fans celebrating the gameplay and direction. Much of the excitement comes from the game telling an entirely new story, with the notebook-driven deduction sequences also drawing comparisons to Ace Attorney's interrogation segments, and the ingredient-crafting echoing Gust's own history with the Atelier series.
Game Release Part of Wave of Adaptations
Koei Tecmo has given a hand to expand The Apothecary Diaries in the gaming sphere, among other efforts to increase the franchise’s growth. In late 2026, the anime adaptation returns for its third season, following the franchise's massive global success. The project timeline includes both animated and film entries. The franchise is set to have multiple major releases:
⚫︎ Anime Season 3 (Part 1): Premieres October 2, 2026
⚫︎ Original Feature Film: Releases December 11, 2026
⚫︎ Anime Season 3 (Part 2): Premieres April 2027
⚫︎ The False Imperial Brother: Launching Early 2027
⚫︎ Live-Action Series: Scheduled for 2028
Further details on the game will surface at the Tokyo Game Show 2026. Those interested can expect to learn more about The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother there!
Sources:
Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026 Announcement
Investigate Palace Conspiracies in KOEI TECMO's The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother
