The Apothecary Diaries has officially expanded into browser gaming with The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles, a new simulation title built around Maomao’s investigations in the Imperial Court and the pleasure district. Developed for CTW’s G123 platform, the game launched on June 15, 2026, and is now available to play on smartphones, tablets, and PCs without an app download.
For longtime fans, the biggest draw is the chance to step into Maomao’s world and follow a series of incidents inspired by the anime. The game includes more than 35 characters, bringing together familiar faces such as Jinshi, Gaoshun, Lady Gyokuyou, Xiaolan, and Shisui.
Rather than requiring a traditional installation, Palace Chronicles runs directly through a web browser. Players can move between devices, playing on a PC at home or continuing on a smartphone while away. An auto-play feature is also included, making the game designed for shorter play sessions as well as longer visits to the palace.
Maomao’s palace mysteries become a simulation game
CTW describes The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles as an online simulation game in which players take on the role of Maomao. The story sends her into incidents unfolding across both the Imperial Court and the pleasure district, two settings that have been central to the anime’s blend of mystery, medicine, court politics, and darkly comic character drama.
The game’s format appears to focus on building up Maomao and assembling a roster of characters while progressing through the world of The Apothecary Diaries. The announcement does not reveal the full structure of the investigations or explain how closely individual scenarios will follow the anime, so those details are worth keeping an eye on as the game continues its rollout.
What has been confirmed is a sizeable character lineup. More than 35 characters are featured, including Maomao and Jinshi, whose unusual relationship remains one of the franchise’s defining elements. Gaoshun, Lady Gyokuyou, Xiaolan, and Shisui are also named among the playable world’s familiar cast of characters.
Free to start, with launch rewards available
Palace Chronicles is free to play at its basic level, although it includes paid in-game items. That places the title in the familiar browser-game model of an accessible entry point supported by optional purchases.
Before launch, the game passed 200,000 pre-registrations. The announced rewards include 50 draw tickets, 20 units of Tea, and Xiaolan. Those rewards were promoted as limited-time launch items for users who joined the pre-registration campaign.
Because the game is browser-based, players do not need to download a dedicated application. That could make it particularly easy for anime viewers who want to sample the game without committing storage space to another mobile title. The inclusion of auto-play also suggests that CTW is aiming for a casual, pick-up-and-play experience rather than a game requiring constant attention.
A busy year ahead for The Apothecary Diaries
The game arrives during a major period for the franchise. The Apothecary Diaries anime’s third season is scheduled to begin its first cour in October 2026, with the second cour planned for April 2027. The franchise’s first theatrical film is scheduled to open in Japan on December 11, 2026.
The film, titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Secret Treasure of the Late Queen in English translation of its Japanese subtitle, will feature an all-new story written by the original author. The Season 3 television anime is being produced by OLM, while the theatrical film is being produced by TOHO animation STUDIO.
That makes Palace Chronicles more than a standalone game release: it is part of a broader expansion for one of anime’s most prominent mystery franchises. With the browser game now live and new anime projects scheduled for later in 2026, fans will have several new ways to follow Maomao’s next round of dangerous diagnoses and palace secrets.
For now, the key things to watch are how the game develops after launch, which additional characters and story events are added, and whether its investigations capture the sharp medical sleuthing that makes Maomao such a distinctive protagonist.
Sources
g123.jp
kusuriyanohitorigoto.jp
toho.co.jp
