The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother launches on March 18, 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, KOEI TECMO America announced on October 21, 2026 in a press release, and pre-orders are open now. Until today the game, developed by Gust in collaboration with TOHO, only had an early 2027 window.
The Details
Editions. A Standard Edition and a Digital Deluxe Edition, which adds a Formal costume pack for Maomao and Jinshi, a Fantasy costume pack for Maomao and a fashion accessory pack for Maomao (Cat). The official site also lists a Digital Deluxe Upgrade Pack for owners of the base game. No prices are given in the release.
Bonuses.
- Digital pre-order bonus: the Apothecary’s Tasteful Accessory Pack, for digital pre-orders placed by March 17, 2027.
- Early purchase bonus: the Apothecary’s Starter Kit and Modest Accessory Pack, for physical or digital copies bought by March 31, 2027. It is included with the digital pre-order bonus.
New gameplay details. Maomao works to unravel the Five Mysteries and solve the Five Curses, and the release names three new characters: Yanxi, a rear palace official known for fortune-telling; Guanyu, a traveling actor; and Chenhan, a Verdigris House patron facing baseless accusations. Finishing quests and delivering requested items such as medicine raises each character’s trust and unlocks side stories.
You sometimes take control of others. Jinshi can get statements from people who will not talk to Maomao, while Maomao (Cat) reaches high places, eavesdrops and collects evidence. The Quack Doctor and Luomen join medicine making, and their choices change the difficulty of its mini-games. Completion Stamps, earned by meeting conditions in each chapter, unlock special illustrations.
The game has Japanese voices with English text.
What This Means for Players
If you are buying digitally, pre-ordering by March 17 gets both bonuses, since the early purchase pack comes with the pre-order pack. Physical buyers still get the early purchase bonus if they buy by March 31; the official site says PS5 and Switch 2 physical buyers redeem it from the PlayStation Store or Nintendo eShop by that date.
It is a dated mystery game for Switch 2 owners to plan around, alongside our best Switch 2 games of 2026 list. Fans of anime-styled Japanese games on Nintendo’s new console can also look at Ys VIII’s Switch 2 upgrade, and our best games of 2026 so far covers what to play before March.
When and Where
- Release: March 18, 2027.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam).
- Pre-orders: open now; the digital bonus requires a pre-order by March 17, 2027.
- Developer and publisher: Gust, published by KOEI TECMO.
Source: KOEI TECMO America, “Uncover the Secrets Behind the Five Curses in KOEI TECMO’s The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother”, October 21, 2026, and the game’s official site.