“Dreams on a Pillow” takes gamers on a compelling journey through the historical event of the 1948 Nakba. This period of crisis saw about 700,000 people uprooted from their homes due to Zionist occupation, and now it’s the foundation of a thought-provoking game by Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh.
Abu-Eideh describes “Dreams on a Pillow” as a “pseudo-3D stealth adventure” that immerses players in a world where a land’s inhabitants face becoming landless. But before diving deeper into this new project, it’s worth noting his previous and impactful work.
Back in 2016, Abu-Eideh released “Liyla and the Shadows of War,” a game that poignantly captured the events of Israel’s 2014 military operation in Gaza, known as Operation Protective Edge. The game shadowed a young Palestinian girl and her family, offering an emotional, interactive experience through a blend of platformer gameplay and choose-your-own-adventure elements. Notably, in 2021, “Liyla” was included in an Indie Bundle Pack that impressively raised close to $900,000 for Palestinian aid through UNRWA USA.
Today, “Liyla and the Shadows of War” is freely available on mobile and Windows platforms. However, its journey wasn’t without hurdles. Initially, in 2016, Apple’s App Store rejected it as a game, instructing Abu-Eideh to consider it as “News” or “Reference,” primarily due to its political undertones. This decision sparked criticisms, especially since Apple allowed a game titled “Israeli Heroes” to remain categorized as a game. After Abu-Eideh highlighted this inconsistency on social media, Apple eventually reversed their decision and listed “Liyla” as a game.
Fast forward to the present, and Abu-Eideh is crowdfunding “Dreams on a Pillow” via LaunchGood until January 13. The funds raised will support asset creation, outsourcing, and salaries for the team, currently consisting of nine talented individuals. This ambitious project is slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2026.
