Koei Tecmo and Atelier series developer Gust have announced that The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will launch on March 18, 2027 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is the first console game adaptation for Hyuganatsu’s The Apothecary Diaries light novel series, which has been adapted into manga and anime.
Players who purchase a physical or digital copy of The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother before March 31 will receive the “Apothecary’s Starter Kit and Modest Accessory Pack” as an early purchase bonus. This is in addition to the Apothecary’s Tasteful Accessory Pack bonus with digital pre-orders made by March 17. A Digital Deluxe Edition will also be available featuring the base game, a Formal costume pack for Maomao and Jinshi, a Fantasy costume pack for Maomao, and a Fashion accessory pack for Maomao (Cat).
Here’s an overview of the game, via Koei Tecmo:
In The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, players follow Maomao as they attempt to unravel the secrets of the Five Mysteries and solve the Five Curses. As the story unfolds, Maomao will encounter a familiar cast of characters alongside brand-new faces, conceived by series author Hyuganatsu, including Yanxi, a high-ranking official in the rear palace’s Bureau of Court Etiquette, known for her accurate fortune-telling skills; Guanyu, a travelling actor; and Chenhan, a regular patron of the Verdigris House, targeted by baseless accusations and unable to defend himself effectively. In addition, Maomao will interact with characters by fulfilling quests and delivering requested items, such as medicine, which will increase her trust with each character, unlocking special side stories for fans to enjoy and discover more about their favorite characters.
Whilst players will mainly play as Maomao, they will also be able to sometimes explore the rear palace as Jinshi and Maomao (Cat), allowing them to obtain information that is inaccessible to human Maomao. For example, by taking control of Jinshi, players can use his position within the rear palace to obtain statements from people who would not speak to Maomao, whilst Maomao (Cat) can reach high places to find clues, eavesdrop on conversations, and retrieve pieces of evidence.
As the story unfolds, players will also be able to play as the Quack Doctor, and Luomen whilst concocting medicines, thereby affecting the difficulty of the associated mini-games. Finally, if fans fulfill certain conditions in each chapter, they will unlock Completion Stamps which, once all have been unlocked, will reward them with special illustrations.
