The Apothecary Diaries game launches on 18 March 2027
Koei Tecmo’s first The Apothecary Diaries console game launches in March 2027 with Maomao investigating new palace mysteries.
Koei Tecmo’s first console game based on The Apothecary Diaries will launch on 18 March 2027, bringing Maomao’s medicine knowledge and detective work to PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam. The publisher’s official site describes the game, titled The Apothecary Diaries: False Imperial Prince in English and Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Itsuwari no Koutei (薬屋のひとりごと ～偽りの皇弟～) in Japanese, as a completely new story based on the anime and original work. 12
A new mystery for Maomao
The game begins soon after Maomao starts working as a maid in the imperial rear palace. Strange incidents known as the Five Mysteries spread through the palace: a faceless eunuch, a warehouse that cries every night and clothing that turns red in a single night are among the cases she is asked to investigate. Later, a second thread involving the Five Curses draws the story into the capital and towards the truth behind a supposedly false imperial prince. 1
The official site says the story is an original one with an outline by The Apothecary Diaries creator Natsu Hyuga. It is not simply a playable retelling of an existing anime arc. Players follow Maomao as she gathers evidence, makes medicines and questions the people around her, with the game’s mysteries connecting the palace, the pleasure district and the wider capital. 1
The investigation system is built around collecting information in the field, then presenting or combining evidence during deduction sections. Choices can raise Maomao’s trust level with the people involved in a case, while incorrect decisions can send an investigation down the wrong path. The game also includes a medicine-making system, letting Maomao use materials found during exploration rather than treating her knowledge as a purely narrative detail. 12
Multiple viewpoints and release details
Maomao is not the only character players will control. The official material says some investigations can be approached through Jinshi’s perspective, using his position to draw out testimony Maomao cannot reach, while the cat Maomao can also be used to follow clues from a different angle. The game’s character-investigation records add optional requests and relationship stories as players deliver medicines and help the people they meet. 1
Koei Tecmo’s Gust brand is developing the game. That connection helps explain the medicine-making focus: Gust is known for the Atelier series, and the project was nicknamed “Maomao’s Atelier” by players after the original announcement. The nickname is a useful shorthand for the blend of investigation and crafting, but the official title remains The Apothecary Diaries: False Imperial Prince. 2
The game is scheduled for 18 March 2027 on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam. Automaton reports a standard-edition price of 8,580 yen in Japan, alongside premium packages containing items such as an art book and pill case. The same report lists a digital deluxe edition with costume DLC, although regional pricing and availability may differ. 2
The official trailer gives a first look at the palace mystery and the game’s central cast:
Our opinion
A mystery-adventure is a natural fit for Maomao because the character’s appeal comes from watching her notice the detail everyone else dismisses. The game’s most promising idea is therefore not the medicine crafting on its own, but the way exploration, questioning and deduction are meant to feed into one another. If the evidence system gives players enough room to make an intelligent inference rather than simply select a glowing prompt, it could capture the satisfaction of following Maomao’s thought process.
The multiple-viewpoint approach also gives the adaptation a reason to exist beyond replaying the anime. Jinshi can open doors Maomao cannot, while the cat offers a deliberately different way to inspect a scene. Those systems will need careful pacing, especially if the game moves between palace drama, investigation and optional character requests, but the structure at least reflects the source material’s mix of court politics and practical problem-solving.
For now, the important facts are straightforward: this is an original The Apothecary Diaries game from Koei Tecmo and Gust, it has a confirmed 18 March 2027 release date, and the official site has already shown its investigation, crafting and multi-character foundations. The next question is whether the finished game can make those systems feel as sharp as Maomao herself.