Maomao llega a las consolas en una nueva investigación palaciega

There is a particular scent in the imperial palace, between medicinal herbs, incense and secrets that nobody dares to say out loud. That atmosphere returns in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, the first console game announced for the saga, which will be released on March 18, 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC through Steam. The announcement was made by KOEI TECMO and Gust, in collaboration with TOHO Co., Ltd.

I was drawn to the idea of seeing Maomao in a new setting, not only solving court problems but also moving through the palace from a different perspective. The story was conceived by Hyuganatsu, the original author of the saga, and follows Maomao as she investigates the mysteries surrounding the Five Mysteries of the imperial palace while trying to resolve what the story calls the Five Curses.

A story with new faces and familiar conflicts

The announcement also introduces characters who may have reasons to approach the central mystery from very different angles. Yanxi is a civil servant skilled in divination, while Guanyu is a traveling actor. Chenhan, a regular visitor to Casa Verdigris, has been accused unjustly, a detail that suggests another layer of intrigue and injustice to investigate. The presence of Luomen and the Quack Doctor, meanwhile, connects the investigation with the preparation of remedies and the knowledge of medicine that defines Maomao's world.

What attracts me most is the way the game seems to connect political information with daily practice. Playing as Jinshi offers access to people who would not speak with Maomao, because his position allows him to obtain information that she could not obtain on her own. The proposal does not simply repeat the same investigation from another angle: it makes status, observation and trust part of the process.

“Me quedo con las ganas de ver cómo se translate esa diferencia en el juego, porque la iniciativa de Maomao y la posición de Jinshi parecen abrir caminos distintos hacia el mismo secreto.”Renata Molinari

• Investigar the mysteries behind the Five Mysteries of the imperial palace.
• Control Maomao or Jinshi, each with different abilities and access to information.
• Play as Maomao in her cat form to climb structures, listen to private conversations and collect evidence in hard-to-reach places.
• Complete missions by delivering potions and medicines to strengthen relationships and unlock side stories.
• Participate in remedy preparation minigames involving Luomen and the Quack Doctor, with preparation affecting alchemy difficulty.

The cat form is, in my view, one of the most curious proposals. It changes the rhythm of an investigation: instead of entering a place directly, Maomao can observe it from above, reach restricted areas and gather clues without being seen. It is a small mechanic with a surprisingly large narrative effect, because the palace becomes not only a political stage but also a landscape full of hiding places, overheard words and overlooked traces.

The progression system also appears to give importance to relationships rather than treating supporting characters as decoration. Delivering potions and medicines strengthens bonds with the cast and opens secondary stories, while the remedy preparation minigames invite players to pay attention to the consequences of each process. The result is a game that promises two forms of problem solving: finding out who is hiding the truth and preparing the right medicine.

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is scheduled for March 18, 2027, with digital preorders already available. Among the elements that most spark my curiosity are the original story by Hyuganatsu, the investigation mechanics and the possibility of exploring the palace as a cat. The announcement does not resolve those questions, but it does present a clear promise: the court intrigue will be experienced through multiple perspectives, with medicine, politics and observation occupying the same place.