The world of The Apothecary Diaries has expanded beyond its anime, manga, and light novel roots with The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles, a browser-based simulation game that puts Maomao’s medical knowledge directly into players’ hands. Developed for G123 by CTW, the game allows players to investigate incidents across the Imperial Court and pleasure district, gather herbs, craft medicines, develop Maomao, and build relationships with familiar characters.
Unlike a traditional action game, Palace Chronicles focuses on the qualities that make Maomao such a compelling protagonist. Observation, accumulated knowledge, medical expertise, and problem-solving take center stage rather than flashy combat. The game also introduces an original Medical Office system where players can develop facilities, train companions, conduct research, and connect their progression to Maomao’s activities.
The game officially launched on June 15, 2026, and is available through web browsers on smartphones, tablets, and PCs without requiring a separate download. More than 35 characters from The Apothecary Diaries appear in the game, including Maomao, Jinshi, Gaoshun, Gyokuyou, Xiaolan, and Shisui.
With The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 scheduled to begin on October 2, the timing also gives Palace Chronicles an opportunity to keep fans engaged with Maomao’s world as the anime returns. Crunchyroll has confirmed the third season for its Fall 2026 lineup, with the first cour beginning in October before the second cour arrives in April 2027.
In an exclusive written interview provided to OtakuKart, CTW, the producer of The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles, discussed why the franchise was suited to a browser simulation, the challenge of transforming Maomao’s deductive process into interactive gameplay, and how the team approached the game’s Medical Office system. CTW also addressed player feedback, monetization, the soundtrack, and how the game could evolve alongside the upcoming anime season.
Why The Apothecary Diaries Was a Natural Fit for a Simulation Game
OtakuKart: The Apothecary Diaries is a huge license to take on. How did the partnership come about, and what made CTW confident that Maomao’s world would suit a browser-based game rather than a console or mobile-native title?
CTW: From its unique setting in an imperial court to its exploration of pharmacology, poisons, and puzzle-solving, The Apothecary Diaries features many elements that lend themselves well to a game. What particularly drew us to the idea of creating a game based on the series were the relationships between its charming characters and, most importantly, the unique appeal of the work, which emphasizes problem-solving not through flashy combat, but through “knowledge,” “observation,” and “accumulated experience.”
Therefore, we believed that a simulation format in which players take on the role of Maomao and experience life in the imperial palace would be a perfect fit for the series. Players can deepen their knowledge through herb gathering, research, and medical treatment while building their own Medical Office and developing relationships with their companions.
G123’s browser-based format was another important factor. The platform does not require a download and allows players to access the game across smartphones, PCs, and other devices. CTW believes this makes it easier for fans who discovered the series through either the anime or original light novels to immerse themselves in its world.
OtakuKart: Much of the series’ appeal comes from Maomao’s deductive reasoning. What was the hardest part of turning that investigative process into something a player actually does, rather than watches?
CTW: The hardest part was finding a way for players to experience Maomao’s process of gradually building her knowledge and using it to deal with the different problems she encounters, rather than simply watching those events unfold.
Rather than making Palace Chronicles a purely investigative game, we wanted players to take on Maomao’s role and develop her knowledge and expertise themselves. Through medical consultations, research, and herb gathering, players gradually strengthen Maomao while becoming involved in the various troubles that arise in the imperial palace and the red-light district.
How the Medical Office Expands Maomao’s World
One of the game’s biggest additions is the Medical Office, a system designed specifically for Palace Chronicles. Instead of functioning as a disconnected management mechanic, CTW wanted the facility to reinforce Maomao’s medical expertise and relationships with other characters.
OtakuKart: The “Medical Office” system is original to the game. Where did the idea come from, and how did you make sure a management layer still felt like it belonged in the world of the rear palace?
CTW: The Medical Office system was born from the idea of creating a space where players can experience Maomao’s knowledge of medicine and medical practices while gaining a tangible sense of growth.
Players can develop and customize the Medical Office while training companions and advancing medical treatments and research. It is designed not simply as a facilities management game, but as a system that showcases Maomao’s knowledge, activities, and connections with others.
CTW also wanted to avoid turning the Medical Office into something that felt detached from the historical setting of The Apothecary Diaries. Medical treatment, research, and collaboration with allies are therefore closely connected to the facility’s progression.
The official game description similarly highlights the Medical Office as a core part of progression, with players using collected items to upgrade facilities and develop their own approach to managing the space.
OtakuKart: How closely did you work with the original rights holders and the anime’s production side? What did the approval process look like for things like newly voiced lines and characters appearing as unlockable allies?
CTW: This game was developed in collaboration with the rights holder and is an officially licensed adaptation of the anime. Our aim was to incorporate engaging game elements while ensuring that the game’s original lore, setting, and atmosphere remain intact.
Development was carried out under the supervision of the IP holder, including review and confirmation of character backgrounds, visuals, and the language and expressions used within the game.
For the characters who appear as companions, the team wanted to preserve their personalities and relationships from the series while allowing players to interact with them naturally within the game’s setting. CTW emphasized that authenticity to The Apothecary Diaries was more important than simply adding features for the sake of gameplay.
Building a Long-Term Experience for Fans
Palace Chronicles is designed to be played over an extended period, which also influenced its approach to music and progression. CTW says it wanted the game to complement the story and characters instead of distracting from them.
OtakuKart: The soundtrack has come up a lot in the reception. Who worked on the music, what was the brief, and is a release something you’d consider?
CTW: The game’s soundtrack was developed by CTW’s in-house sound team. The soundscape was composed with the intention of allowing players to feel as though they are living alongside Maomao in the imperial palace while preserving the world and atmosphere of the series.
Since this is a simulation game designed to be played over a long period of time, we took great care to create music that does not distract from the story or characters, but instead immerses players in the world of the series during their daily gameplay.
There are currently no specific plans for a soundtrack release. However, CTW said it is grateful for the feedback and intends to take it into consideration when planning future developments.
OtakuKart: Free-to-play progression is notoriously tricky to balance. How did you approach pacing so that the game stays rewarding for players who never spend anything?
CTW: We believe monetization should never stand between players and the story. Fans should be free to connect with the characters and experience the world naturally, without ever feeling pressured to spend.
That’s why we design our games so free-to-play players can still make real progress and fully enjoy the series they love. Paid features are reserved for optional extras and convenience as a way to move faster if you choose to, while the core gameplay stays accessible to everyone.
Ultimately, we want players to support the game because they genuinely enjoy it, not because they feel they have to.
CTW on Player Feedback and the Future of Palace Chronicles
Since its June launch, Palace Chronicles has given CTW an opportunity to see which aspects of the anime resonate most strongly when translated into an interactive format. The producer says the response to the characters has been particularly encouraging.
OtakuKart: The game launched on June 15. What has surprised the team most about how players have engaged with it since then, and how has that shaped the updates you’ve planned?
CTW: What stayed with us most after the game’s release was the passion fans have for characters like Maomao and Jinshi. We were overjoyed to see that players not only responded to the characters themselves, but also took notice of the in-game illustrations, facial expressions, subtle movements, and cinematics.
CTW said this response was especially meaningful because the development team placed considerable emphasis on preserving the charm and worldview of the characters from the original novels and anime. Seeing players recognize those details has been a source of pride and encouragement for the team.
As a result, the team plans to continue delivering new characters, illustrations, visual effects, and limited-time events that allow players to experience the appeal of individual characters. Quality-of-life improvements and balance adjustments will also remain part of the game’s continued development.
OtakuKart: With Season 3 on the horizon, is there scope for the game to tie into the new arc, and more broadly, how does CTW see games like this fitting into the wider life of an anime series between seasons?
CTW: Our plan is to keep expanding the game with new features and content after launch, including new characters, new development opportunities, limited-time events, and reward campaigns, because we want this to be a title players can stick with for the long haul.
We also take player feedback seriously, and rolling out quality-of-life improvements and balance adjustments will remain a top priority as we work to keep the experience as enjoyable as possible.
With fans eagerly awaiting the show’s third season, we’re looking at ways to build on the player experience alongside the anime’s release. We can’t share specifics yet, but we’re putting together in-game initiatives so players can enjoy the game in step with the series’ growing momentum.
The timing is particularly notable for fans of the franchise. The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is scheduled to premiere on October 2, with the first cour bringing Maomao into a new mystery before the series continues with its second cour in April 2027. The franchise is also preparing its first theatrical movie for December 2026.
For now, The Apothecary Diaries Palace Chronicles is available through G123 on smartphones, tablets, and PCs without requiring an app download. The game is free to play with optional in-game purchases, while its core experience centers on raising Maomao, solving cases, gathering ingredients, crafting medicine, and developing the Medical Office.
