“Dreams on a Pillow” immerses players in a profound experience focused on the 1948 Nakba, a historical event that led to the displacement of roughly 700,000 people from their homes and lands due to Zionist forces.
Rasheed Abu-Eideh, a Palestinian developer, is the mind behind this game, which he portrays as a “pseudo-3D stealth adventure,” highlighting a region transformed from a land filled with people to a people without land. But before diving deeper into this latest venture, let’s look back at his earlier work.
In 2016, Abu-Eideh introduced the world to “Liyla and the Shadows of War,” a poignant game set against the backdrop of Israel’s 2014 offensive on Gaza, known as Operation Protective Edge. The narrative follows a young Palestinian girl and her family as they navigate the dangers in their war-torn neighborhood. Though brief, its impact lingers due to a compelling blend of platforming and choose-your-own-adventure elements. By 2021, the game contributed to an Indie Bundle that successfully raised almost $900,000 for Palestinian aid, in partnership with UNRWA USA.
Today, “Liyla and the Shadows of War” is accessible for free on mobile devices and Windows computers. Interestingly, its journey wasn’t without hurdles. In its debut year, Apple’s App Store rejected its classification as a game due to its political context. Apple recommended reclassifying it under “News” or “Reference.” This decision sparked criticism, as highlighted by Eurogamer, particularly because Apple did categorize a game called “Israeli Heroes” as such. After Abu-Eideh voiced his concerns on social media, Apple relented, eventually allowing “Liyla” to be recognized officially as a game.
Meanwhile, “Dreams on a Pillow” is in its crowdfunding phase on LaunchGood, running through January 13th. The funds are intended to support various aspects of development, including asset creation, outsourcing, and the payment of the team, which currently comprises nine members. The game is slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2026.
