The plucky Maomao has sniffed out poisons, solved palace murders, and talked her way out of more trouble than most anime heroines get into in an entire season. Now she gets to do it on consoles. Koei Tecmo and developer Gust, working in collaboration with TOHO, announced today that The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will launch worldwide on March 18, 2027 for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and Steam PC.

This is the first console game based on the hit series, and it features a brand new story rather than retread the same ground as the anime. Series author Hyuganatsu conceived the plot herself, so hopefully fans concerned with the lore will hold their torches and pitchforks back for now.

Maomao, the poison-obsessed apothecary turned rear palace maidservant, gets drawn into the Five Mysteries and the Five Curses, two chains of strange incidents and conspiracies causing chaos all across the capital. A masked man calling himself the “imperial younger brother” is the prime suspect, and the secret at the center of the mystery could destroy the imperial court.

You mostly play as Maomao herself, exploring scenes, interviewing witnesses, and gathering evidence that you present to back up your theories while the another party argues back. Parts of the game shift the controls to Jinshi, who can lean on his high position in the rear palace to get statements out of people who would otherwise not give Maomao the time of day. Other sections star Maomao the cat. Yessir, the cat. Feline Maomao can reach high places, eavesdrop on conversations, and retrieve clues, which is honestly pretty darn Maomao.

New faces join the familiar cast, all conceived by Hyuganatsu: Yanxi, a high-ranking official in the rear palace’s Bureau of Court Etiquette known for her accurate fortune-telling; Guanyu, a travelling actor whose fame is growing in the capital; and Chenhan, a regular patron of the Verdigris House who finds himself targeted by baseless accusations and unable to defend himself.

Running quests and delivering requested items like medicine builds trust with the cast and opens up additional side stories. Medicine-making mini-games put you in the shoes of either the quack doctor or Luomen, and who you pick affects how tricky the brewing gets. Meet certain conditions in each chapter and you will earn completion stamps, and collecting the whole set rewards you with special illustrations.

There will be a standard release and a “Digital Deluxe Edition” packing a formal costume pack for Maomao and Jinshi, a fantasy costume pack for Maomao, and a feline fashion accessory pack for Maomao (the cat). Japan also gets a “Premium Box” and “Special Premium Box” editions, because Nihon always gets the best boxes. Anyone who picks up the game before March 31, 2027 gets the “Apothecary’s Starter Kit and Modest Accessory Pack” as an early purchase bonus. One critical note for physical collectors: the Switch 2 version ships on a game-key card. So, trash, basically.

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is scheduled to release on 18 March 2027. You can check out the announcement trailer below, or add the game to your Steam wishlist now.

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