Palestinian developer crowdfunds game on Nakba
Dreams on a Pillow blends history, survival, and emotion to depict Palestinian displacement in an interactive format
WEST BANK (MNTV) — Palestinian game developer Rasheed Abueideh has secured over $200,000 through crowdfunding to develop Dreams on a Pillow, a side-scrolling stealth game that explores the harrowing reality of the 1948 Nakba—the mass displacement of Palestinians following the creation of Israel.
The game follows Omm, a Palestinian mother forcibly evicted from her home in Tantoura, who, in a state of shock and grief, mistakes a pillow for her lost child.
As she embarks on a perilous journey to a refugee camp in Lebanon, players must navigate her trauma while evading Israeli soldiers and surviving the brutal conditions of displacement.
A unique game mechanic forces players to choose between holding the pillow, which slows Omm down but keeps her mentally stable, or dropping it to move faster at the cost of her emotional stability.
Abueideh, who began designing video games in 2010, previously gained recognition for Liyla & The Shadows of War, a short, volunteer-driven project released in 2016 that depicted the struggles of Palestinian civilians caught in war.
His latest game aims to build on that storytelling approach, offering players a deeply personal and historically rooted experience.
The project, which has garnered significant international attention, successfully raised over $200,000 through a crowdfunding campaign, enabling Abueideh and his small team to move forward with the long-awaited initiative.
Speaking to UAE-based The National, Abueideh credited the game’s crowdfunding success to widespread support from the Arab diaspora, as well as non-Arab and non-Muslim backers who identify as pro-Palestinian.
“It wasn’t just Arabs or Muslims who supported us. Many who stand with Palestine played a crucial role,” he said.
Beyond its narrative, Dreams on a Pillow offers a rare visual representation of Palestinian cities before their destruction. Concept art showcases vibrant streets and homes before they were reduced to rubble, providing a stark contrast between past and present.
Abueideh, who drew inspiration from an Arab anthology series, later confirmed that Omm’s story was based on real-life testimonies.
With funding secured for the first development phase, Abueideh and his seven-member remote team—spread across Europe, Jordan, and Kuwait—are working toward a late 2025 release.
The crowdfunding campaign remains active as the team seeks additional support to complete the project.
The game also aims to depict Palestinian cities as they were before the devastation of war, with concept art showcasing vibrant streets contrasted against the grey rubble of destruction.
For Abueideh, the game is a platform for compassionate storytelling that fosters empathy and awareness of the Palestinian struggle.
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