The Apothecary Diaries gets PC game spin-off

The anime series The Apothecary Diaries is expanding into gaming with a new PC title called The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, published by Koei Tecmo. The game follows Maomao, the protagonist of the original series, as she uncovers a web of strange phenomena and political intrigue within the imperial palace.

The story centers on Maomao's investigation into the Five Mysteries and Five Curses—two interconnected chains of bizarre events and conspiracies unfolding across the palace, the pleasure district, and the capital's streets. Her inquiry takes a turn when she encounters a mysterious masked figure claiming to be an imperial younger brother. As rumors spread about this figure's true identity, Maomao becomes entangled in an investigation that threatens to expose secrets capable of destabilizing the entire imperial court.

Gameplay combines open-ended exploration with detective work. Players will navigate the palace and surrounding city, gathering clues and materials while interviewing characters. The investigation culminates in deduction sequences where players must present evidence to support their conclusions about what has occurred. The game's visual direction and narrative approach draw from the anime adaptation rather than the original manga, though manga author Hyuganatsu has conceptualized the story.

The Apothecary Diaries itself is an anime series based on a manga of the same name. The story reimagines a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery narrative set in a world inspired by Tang Dynasty-era China. Maomao, the central character, works as a servant in the Forbidden Palace attending to the Emperor's concubines, but her true role involves solving court mysteries through forensic analysis and her extensive knowledge of toxicology and alchemy. Her investigations often put her at odds with Jinshi, a palace administrator whose administrative duties frequently intersect with her detective work.

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is scheduled to release in early 2027 on PC.