It’s a wonderful time to be a fan of The Apothecary Diaries. The beloved anime and light novel series has been gathering a passionate global following for years, and all that affection is about to be rewarded in a big way — especially with the announcement of a brand-new video game. During the September 9 Nintendo Direct, fans were treated to the reveal of The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, a mystery adventure game that marks the series’ first console outing and arrives sometime in early 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The game is being developed by Koei Tecmo, and while that alone is exciting, the real hook is the story. Rather than retelling events already covered in the novels, manga, or anime, the game presents a completely original scenario based on an entirely new concept by series creator Hyuganatsu. That means even the most devoted readers will go in blind, experiencing the intrigue, the comedy, and the heartbreak of the imperial court through a story that hasn’t been told anywhere else. With Japanese voice acting and English subtitles, it’s built to welcome both long-time fans and newcomers who have only dipped their toes into Maomao’s world.
The premise of The False Imperial Brother feels perfectly at home with the atmosphere fans have come to love. At the center of it all is Maomao, whose encyclopedic knowledge of medicine and uncanny eye for detail are once again the driving force behind the mystery. This time, she’s drawn into a tangled web of incidents tied to the so-called “Five Mysteries” and “Five Curses,” a pair of ominous threads that sound like old superstitions but quickly prove to be far more dangerous. Along the way, she encounters a masked man who claims to be the “imperial younger brother,” a title that should not exist, and whose very presence hints at a conspiracy with the potential to upend the imperial court. It’s exactly the kind of politically charged, quietly dangerous scenario that the series handles so well, and having Maomao step right into the middle of it is a delight to imagine. The announcement trailer also gives fans a comforting glimpse of familiar faces — Jinshi, Gaoshun, Gyokuyou, Lihua, and Xiaolan all make appearances — and their presence has already sparked plenty of speculation about where the game fits into the timeline. Koei Tecmo hasn’t officially confirmed the exact placement, but the inclusion of characters like Xiaolan suggests the events might take place sometime within the period covered by the first two anime seasons, rather than after Season 2. Either way, the setup is rich with potential, mixing the series’ signature blend of dark intrigue, sharp humor, and emotional complexity into an interactive experience.
When it comes to gameplay, The False Imperial Brother is clearly designed to make players feel like they are stepping directly into Maomao’s shoes. Described as a mystery adventure built around investigation and deduction, the game asks players to explore a variety of locations connected to each case, searching for evidence, talking to witnesses, and using Maomao’s observational skills to notice details that might otherwise slip past unnoticed. This is not a game about swinging a sword or blasting enemies; it’s a game about slowing down, looking closely, and thinking carefully. Some sections will even take Maomao beyond the walls of the city, as she ventures out in search of medicinal ingredients — an activity that is both practical and charming, since it gives fans the chance to engage with her herbal expertise in a hands-on way. The trailer itself captures one of the most delightfully Maomao moments imaginable: when she stumbles upon a patch of greenery packed with medicinal herbs, her eyes go starry, her expression shifts into something suddenly cat-like, and what appears to be a pair of cat ears sprout from her head. It’s the kind of visual gag that anime and manga fans know and love, but now, instead of just watching from the outside, players get to trigger those moments themselves by exploring the world and collecting the plants that are so central to her character. It’s a small touch, but it perfectly captures the tonal balance of the series, where life-and-death mysteries and silly, human little obsessions exist side by side.
The investigative heart of The False Imperial Brother lies in its deduction sequences, where all the pieces Maomao has gathered finally click together. After collecting enough information — examining crime scenes, listening to testimony, and assembling her mental map of the truth — players will enter a more focused mode where they need to piece together the evidence, spot contradictions, and present proof to challenge the people involved. The announcement trailer gives us glimpses of Maomao returning to crime scenes, connecting clues across different moments, and confronting suspects whose stories unravel under pressure. In one particularly intriguing moment, she catches an individual whose testimony reveals knowledge they shouldn’t have had, a classic mystery game beat that’s sure to satisfy fans who love the satisfaction of pressing a lie until it breaks. For those who have enjoyed other mystery adventure games, this structure will feel familiar and welcome, but the Apothecary Diaries flavor makes it uniquely compelling. Maomao isn’t a detective in the traditional sense, and she doesn’t rely on dramatic interrogations or gadgets. She uses logic, chemistry, and a deeply unsentimental view of human nature to peel back the layers of deception. The game appears to honor that character, giving players the opportunity to think the way she thinks — connecting medical knowledge to social observation, and using the truth as a scalpel to cut through the elaborate lies of the imperial court. It’s an interactive format that suits her character perfectly, transforming passive viewing into active participation.
The hype doesn’t stop at the reveal trailer, of course. Koei Tecmo has already announced that The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will appear at a Tokyo Game Show 2026 stage livestream on September 20, where players can expect to see more of the game in action. Even better, some of the series’ central voice actors are scheduled to appear, including Aoi Yuki, who voices Maomao, Takeo Otsuka, who voices Jinshi, and Yohei Azakami, who voices Guanyu. That’s a strong signal that Koei Tecmo is treating the game with the same care and respect as the original works, and it gives fans something to look forward to almost immediately after the announcement. But the game is just one piece of an enormous year for the franchise. Season 3 of the anime is set to begin this October, a movie is scheduled to arrive on December 11, and a live-action adaptation is already planned for 2028. With so much content arriving in such a short window, it’s safe to say that The Apothecary Diaries has never been more culturally present. For fans who discovered the series recently through streaming or who have been following Maomao since the earliest light novels, this is an overwhelming but incredibly exciting time. The ability to move from watching her on screen to solving mysteries as her in a video game feels like a natural evolution for the series, and the fact that the game offers a fully original story only makes it more special.
Ultimately, The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is shaping up to be a love letter to everything fans adore about the series. It promises to deliver the political intrigue, the medical cleverness, the dry humor, and the strange tenderness that have made Maomao one of the most memorable protagonists in recent anime and manga history. The decision to collaborate directly with series author Hyuganatsu on an original concept is a thoughtful one, ensuring that the game feels authentic even as it ventures into new narrative territory. And while the early 2027 release window still feels far away, the upcoming Tokyo Game Show presentation, the premiere of Season 3, and a proper theatrical release will help fill the wait with plenty of distractions. For those who have ever wished they could walk through the bustling streets of the imperial capital, peek into Maomao’s medicine cabinet, and untangle a conspiracy that could shake the very foundations of the court, this will be the closest thing yet to living that fantasy. It’s a project filled with promise, and one that seems to understand exactly why so many people have fallen in love with this strange, sharp-witted apothecary and her chaotic world of poisons, politics, and hidden truths. Early 2027 can’t come soon enough.