Dreams on a Pillow: An Innovative Game by a Palestinian Designer

Dreams on a Pillow offers gamers an immersive experience into the harrowing events of the 1948 Nakba, where around 700,000 individuals were uprooted from their homes amid rising Zionist occupation.

This engaging “pseudo-3D stealth adventure game” explores the transformation of a land full of people into people without land. It’s the brainchild of Palestinian developer Rasheed Abu-Eideh. But before we delve further into this project, it’s worth revisiting his previous endeavor.

Back in 2016, Abu-Eideh brought us Liyla and the Shadows of War, a poignant title centered on the 2014 Gaza assault during Operation Protective Edge. The storyline follows a young Palestinian girl and her family as they try to survive the chaos surrounding them. Liyla may be brief, but its emotional impact is profound, blending platforming gameplay with choose-your-own-adventure elements. Remarkably, in 2021, Liyla was part of an Indie Bundle Pack that garnered nearly $900,000 to support Palestinian causes through UNRWA USA.

Today, players can access Liyla and the Shadows of War for free on mobile and Windows platforms. However, when it first debuted in 2016, it faced a stumbling block on the Apple App Store, getting turned away as a game. Instead, Apple insisted it should be listed under “News” or “Reference” due to its political theme. This raised eyebrows, considering Apple allowed a title called Israeli Heroes in the game category. Following public outcry on social media, Apple eventually conceded, and Liyla was rightfully recognized as a game.

Now, turning back to Dreams on a Pillow, Abu-Eideh is actively seeking support through a crowdfunding campaign on LaunchGood, which runs until January 13. The funding will help cover costs for asset creation, outsourcing, and salaries for the team of nine. They aim to release the game in the fourth quarter of 2026.