“Dreams on a Pillow” takes gamers on a poignant journey through the historical event of the 1948 Nakba, where about 700,000 people were forcibly removed from their lands and homes during the Zionist occupation.
Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh describes his latest creation as a “pseudo-3D stealth adventure” set in a world where a vibrant community is transformed into a people without a land. Before delving deeper into this new release, it’s worth revisiting Abu-Eideh’s previous work.
Back in 2016, Abu-Eideh launched “Liyla and the Shadows of War,” a game that brings attention to the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, known as Operation Protective Edge. “Liyla” tells the story of a young Palestinian girl and her family trying to survive the chaos engulfing their neighborhood. Though concise in length, the game elicits deep emotions by blending platforming with choose-your-own-adventure elements. Impressively, in 2021, it was included in an Indie Bundle Pack that nearly amassed $900,000 for Palestinian aid through UNRWA USA.
Today, “Liyla and the Shadows of War” is available for free on both mobile devices and Windows. However, its initial release encountered hurdles. In 2016, the Apple App Store rejected it as a game, pressuring Abu-Eideh to label it as “News” or “Reference” due to its political narrative. This decision was seen as contradictory, especially when a game like “Israeli Heroes” was easily categorized as a game. After expressing his concerns on social media, Abu-Eideh successfully got Apple to recognize “Liyla” as a game.
As for “Dreams on a Pillow,” it is presently undergoing a crowdfunding campaign on LaunchGood, which will continue until January 13. Funds raised will support asset creation, outsourcing, and salaries for Abu-Eideh’s team of nine. The projected release for this meaningful game is set for the fourth quarter of 2026.
