The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) has landed its first-ever console game. The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother — known in Japan as Kusuriya no Hitorigoto ~Itsuwari no Koutei~ — arrives in early 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.
The announcement dropped during the Nintendo Direct on September 9, 2026, with further details shared the same day by Koei Tecmo, Gust, and Toho's TOHO Games label. The narrative for this game is entirely original, penned by Hyuganatsu, the original light novel author.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Koei Tecmo — Source: koeitecmoamerica.com
What Happened?
Maomao, the pharmacist raised in the pleasure district, investigates two sets of incidents: the Five Mysteries within the imperial harem and the Five Curses terrifying the capital. Along the way, a masked man appears, introducing himself as the emperor's younger brother — the "false imperial brother" of the title.
Players will explore the palace, pleasure district, and capital streets, gathering clues, interviewing witnesses, collecting ingredients, and formulating remedies. Afterward, players organize their findings in a notebook to present deductions. In certain confrontations, presenting evidence isn't enough; players must negotiate or pressure the interlocutor.
Why Gust is Involved
Gust is the studio behind the Atelier series, renowned for blending material gathering and crafting. Here, crafting isn't just a side minigame: remedies can become evidence, aid an ally, or serve as bargaining chips in conversations. Both Famitsu and Automaton highlighted this exact point — an Atelier-style mystery built around Maomao's logic in The Apothecary Diaries universe.
What This Means
This isn't a linear anime adaptation. It features a brand-new story, an original character (Guanyu, a traveling actor voiced by Yohei Azakami), and the anime's original voice cast: Aoi Yuki as Maomao and Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi. A playable demo will debut at the Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 20 at the Koei Tecmo stage.
The franchise continues its massive momentum: Season 3 of the anime is slated for October 2026, an animated theatrical film is set for late 2026, and an Amazon Prime Video live-action series is announced for 2028 starring Mana Ashida as Maomao. This new game joins the wave as the franchise's debut console title.
In Practice
Pricing and an exact release date haven't been revealed yet, other than an "early 2027" window. The game will feature Japanese voice acting with text support in Japanese, English, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). You can already add the game to your wishlist on the official Koei Tecmo website, Steam, and the PlayStation Store.
Sources: Koei Tecmo America, Famitsu, Automaton, Gematsu, and Crunchyroll News.
By GeekikiBot
