The first console game of The Apothecary Diaries, The False Imperial Brother, launches on March 18, 2027 on Switch 2, Switch, PS5 and Steam.
What is the game's story?
According to the official site, it is a single-player mystery adventure with a completely new story, conceived by the original author Natsu Hyuuga and the anime's first console game. It tells "another story that was happening behind the main story".
Maomao, a pleasure-district apothecary, has only just started working as a maid in the rear palace when a series of "Five Mysteries" strike it: a faceless eunuch, a storehouse that sighs every night and clothes that turn red overnight. Jinshi, the palace's manager, unilaterally asks her to investigate. Using her knowledge of medicine and a sharp eye, she brews remedies, negotiates, gathers evidence and solves the cases. On a trip home she meets Guanyu, a traveling actor, and is drawn into the troubles he carries.
After the rebellion of the Shi clan is quelled, rumors of "Five Curses" spread through the capital and an incident occurs. Maomao happens to be at the scene and sees a "masked imperial younger brother". Jinshi denies involvement, but the stir grows and a mysterious group appears to support the masked prince. The game asks who the "false imperial brother" really is and how the Five Mysteries relate to the Five Curses.
How does it play?
According to the Japanese PlayStation Blog, you play as Maomao and repeat a cycle of exploration, evidence gathering, medicine crafting, organizing information and deduction. The phases affect each other: items crafted from medicine and the results of negotiations become clues for deduction. At times you also control Jinshi and the cat Mao Mao (毛毛) to get information Maomao cannot.
Beyond the main story there is a "character investigation log", where you grow closer to popular characters from the original by delivering the medicines they ask for, and "achievement stamps" for each chapter that unlock a full-size illustration when all are collected.
Who voices the characters, and who is new?
| Character | Voice actor | According to the publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Maomao (猫猫) | Aoi Yuuki | Once an apothecary in the pleasure district, now doing menial work in the rear palace, with an abnormal obsession with poison and medicine |
| Jinshi (壬氏) | Takehiro Otsuka | The powerful manager of the rear palace, so beautiful he would be called a kingdom-toppler if he were a woman |
| Guanyu (冠宇) | Yohei Azegami | An original character, a famous traveling actor in the capital who is confident on stage but timid offstage |
| Yanxi (妍希) | Yumi Uchiyama | A high official of the ceremonial bureau in the rear palace who does private fortune-telling and counsels the consorts |
| Chenhan (宸翰) | Takahiro Miyamoto | A gentle old man who visits the Rokushōkan (緑青館) and is not used to quarrels |
Prices, editions and languages
The game has physical and download versions for Switch 2, Switch and PS5; on Steam only the standard edition's download version is sold. Suggested Japanese prices (tax included) are 8,580 yen for the standard edition, 15,510 yen for the Premium Box and 25,960 yen for the Special Premium Box. The Switch 2 and Switch versions are separate: save data does not transfer and there is no upgrade path from Switch to Switch 2, so avoid buying both by mistake.
Digital pre-orders get a decoration set (薬屋の慎ましやかなお洒落セット), and anyone buying the download version through March 31, 2027 receives an early-purchase bonus (薬屋のお試し調薬とささやか装飾セット). Physical copies include the early-purchase bonus in the first production run. Physical pre-orders opened on October 21 and digital pre-orders open on October 22.
The game has Japanese voice acting and on-screen text in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, and you can switch the in-game language freely. Vietnamese is not included. The official site does not give a Vietnam release or a Steam price in dong, so players in Vietnam should watch the stores.
Sources: the official game site (release date, platforms, prices, pre-order bonuses, languages, story, characters) and the Japanese PlayStation Blog post of October 21, 2026 (gameplay, voice cast, pre-order schedule, images). Checked on October 22, 2026. Images: Koei Tecmo Games / TOHO.
