Dreams on a Pillow offers a unique gaming experience centered around the historical event of the 1948 Nakba. This tragic period saw approximately 700,000 individuals forcibly removed from their lands and homes due to Zionist occupation.
The game is described as a “pseudo-3D stealth adventure” that focuses on the transformation of a land rich with people into one devoid of them. It’s a creation by Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh. Before diving deeper into Dreams on a Pillow, let’s take a look at his earlier work.
In 2016, Abu-Eideh released Liyla and the Shadows of War, a poignant game that reflects on the 2014 conflict in Gaza, also known as Operation Protective Edge. This game follows a young Palestinian girl and her family as they endure attacks in their neighborhood. Although it’s a brief experience, it packs an emotional punch by blending platforming elements with a choose-your-own-adventure narrative. By 2021, Liyla became part of an Indie Bundle Pack that successfully raised close to $900,000 to support Palestinian aid work via UNRWA USA.
Today, you can download Liyla and the Shadows of War for free on mobile and Windows platforms. However, its journey was not without hurdles. Back in 2016, Apple initially refused to list it as a game on their App Store. They insisted that Abu-Eideh strip away any mention of it being a “Game” and instead categorize it under “News” or “Reference” due to its political themes. This decision sparked criticism for its apparent double standards, as noted by Eurogamer—Apple had no issue acknowledging a game called Israeli Heroes within their game section. Following public pressure through social media, Apple eventually allowed Liyla to be listed as a game.
Currently, Abu-Eideh is running a crowdfunding campaign on LaunchGood for Dreams on a Pillow, set to continue until January 13th. The funds are intended for creating game assets, contracting external support, and covering salaries for his nine-member team. The projected release date for the game is the fourth quarter of 2026.
