Fans of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) have a new reason to celebrate: the franchise’s very first console game has been announced. Titled Kusuriya no Hitorigoto ~Itsuwari no Kōtei~ (薬屋のひとりごと～偽りの皇弟～, roughly The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Prince), the brand-new mystery adventure is set for an early 2027 release.
Original Story Concept by Author Minase Natsu
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is a mystery-entertainment novel series by Minase Natsu (日向夏), following Maomao (猫猫), a young pharmacist serving as a food taster in the imperial court’s inner palace, who uses her knowledge of medicine and sharp powers of observation to solve a string of baffling cases. The TV anime adaptation launched in October 2023 and quickly became a sensation for its blend of genuine mystery and richly atmospheric human drama. The franchise continues to expand: TV anime Season 3 and the series’ first theatrical film are both scheduled for 2026, alongside a live-action drama starring Ashida Mana.
For this game, Minase Natsu herself provided the original story concept. Development is handled by TOHO Games, the studio behind the beloved Atelier series — which has surpassed 8 million units shipped worldwide — and numerous other RPGs.
Story: Five Mysteries, Five Curses, and a Masked Impostor
The story begins shortly after Maomao, a pharmacist from the pleasure district, starts working as a lady-in-waiting in the inner palace. A series of unsettling incidents known as the “Five Mysteries” begin occurring one after another — a faceless eunuch, a storehouse that weeps through the night, robes that turn crimson by dawn. As unease spreads through the palace, Maomao is unilaterally tasked by Jinshi (壬氏), the palace administrator, with investigating these phenomena. Using her pharmaceutical expertise and keen eye, she gathers evidence and works to resolve each case.
During a visit home, Maomao crosses paths with Guanyu (冠宇), a traveling actor. After she prescribes medicine for him, she finds herself gradually drawn into the troubles he carries.
Time passes. In the capital, just after a rebellion by the Zi clan is suppressed, rumors of the “Five Curses” begin to spread — and then an incident actually occurs. Maomao, who happens to be at the scene, witnesses a figure described as a “masked imperial prince.” Jinshi denies any involvement, but a mysterious faction supporting this masked figure emerges, throwing the capital into deeper chaos. Who is the masked imperial prince? What is the connection between the Five Mysteries and the Five Curses? A grand story entangled with forbidden, buried history is about to unfold.
Gameplay
The game revolves around a five-stage cycle: Exploration → Evidence Collection → Medicine Compounding → Information Organization → Deduction. Each phase influences the others — items obtained through compounding and outcomes from negotiations all feed into the deduction process, allowing players to peel back the layers of each case step by step.
Comment from Author Minase Natsu
“I am truly happy that the concept I put forward has been fleshed out to this extent.”
Product Details
- Title: 薬屋のひとりごと～偽りの皇弟～ (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto ~Itsuwari no Kōtei~)
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch™2, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, Steam®
- Genre: Mystery Adventure
- Release Date: Early 2027
- Players: 1
- Rating: Pending (CERO)
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