In the world of Tehran-In Mobile Games, in the world of mobile games, where rapid reflexes and high scores often raise the central stage, some experiences go beyond just entertainment. “Dreams on a Pillow” is one such game. It’s a mobile adventure that not only challenges your skills, but also immerses you in a powerful emotional journey through Nakba in 1948, one of the most defining moments in Palestinian history.
Nakba, a Arabic word for catastrophe, refers to the ethnic cleansing of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes by Zionist forces. Created by Palestinian developer Rasheed Abueideh, Dreams on a Pillow, brings this history interactively to life, turning the mobile screen into a space where players can experience the struggle for survival first-hand.
Imagine that every move has the weight of history and every choice is stepping into a game where you can reflect the past.
But this is more than just a pixel-envelope history lesson. It’s a fascinating stealth adventure that puts you at the heart of Nakba’s untold story. The story of a colonist who mercilessly drove indigenous people from their homelands.
Nakba in 1948
In an interview with the Tehran Times, Abueideh explained that “Dreams on a Pillow” was inspired by historical Palestinian folk tales set against the backdrop of the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Nakba.
“It tells the story of a young Palestinian mother whose husband was killed by Zionist forces. In panic, she rushes to the house to retrieve the newborn from her bed. As she flees the town in fear, she later discovers that she unconsciously took the pillow in place of her baby.”
The Palestinian game developer pointed out that the game’s protagonist, OMM, is a mother from Tantula, a Palestinian Arab fishing village on the Mediterranean coast. “She grew up in this beautiful village surrounded by her family and later built a life there with her husband. But like Nakbah, she was forced to escape and endured the pain of displacement and the loss of her hometown.”
“Instead of focusing solely on historical events, “Pillow Dreams” emphasize human experiences. It emphasizes that it means losing a home, being forced to run away, carrying the weight of memory across generations,” Abuade said, explaining that the game creates an immersive experience that connects the player with the deep personal stories of Nakba’s deep humanity.
In response to Tehran Times’ questions about the inspiration behind the “Dreams On a Pillow” story, the game’s director and designer explained that it was inspired by a true story recorded verbally in Palestinian heritage. The story reflects the true tragedy of Nakba, where many families faced chaos, loss and evacuation. The story of a mother accidentally carrying a pillow in place of her child serves as a powerful proportion of the trauma of forced exile.
“My goal with this game is to preserve these stories and share them in a way that empathizes with this history,” he added.
Previous Success: “Leira and the Shadow of War”
In 2016, Abueideh and his small team of developers in Palestine launched “Liyla & The Shadows of War” on PC and mobile platforms. The game quickly attracted attention for its powerful theme.
According to Palestinian game developers, “Liyla & The Shadows of War” was inspired by real events during the 2014 invasion of Gaza. It tells the story of Liila, a young girl who tries to survive the bombing of their city, and her family.
“The game was a way to shed light on the reality of war and its impact on civilians, especially children,” Abuadeh added, saying that despite the face of censorship, the game has been award-winning, award-winning and featured at international festivals. He saw the deep resonance with players that many people didn’t know about the situation in Gaza as the most important feature of the game.
“Through Liyla & The Shadows of War, I learned the power of emotional storytelling in the game. The game designer said:
Abuade also emphasized in “The Pillow Dream” that he based his approach on his focus on personal loss, memory and resilience rather than conveying the event. “This time, the story is more layered and mixes reality with dreamlike elements to reflect the psychological trauma of displacement.”
Despite its success, it made millions of downloads Garner and won first place for excellence in storyboards at the Middle East and North Africa International Mobile Game Awards – the game faced obstacles. Apple initially refused. This was decided because of its political content.
However, following public pressure, the company later overturned its stance, allowing “Liyla and The Shadows of War” to reach global audiences.
Incredible public support
Abueideh considered balancing historical accuracy with emotional storytelling, creating an experience that engaging and respects real events as one of the key challenges in developing a “pillow dream.”
“Indie games based on awareness have often struggled to attract financial support compared to commercial projects, so funding was also difficult.”
He said censorship from several popular platforms remains a concern, as he has seen similar issues as “Liyla and The Shadows of War.”
Palestinian game developers pointed out that public support is incredibly incredible, far beyond what they initially imagined. “Based on this success, we are keeping the door open for supporters to continue to contribute through LaunchGood,” Abueideh emphasized, adding that this will help ensure the independence of the project and bring the “pillow dreams” to life with the quality and depth it deserves.
“Now we are in the pre-production stage and we are making important decisions that will shape the future of our projects. At the same time, we are developing our core mechanics and creating tools to streamline our production as we move towards full development,” he said.
It’s not just about learning historical facts
Speaking to the Tehran Times, Abueide explained his goal as follows: A “pillow dream” is not just about learning historical facts. It’s about connecting with the human emotions behind them. I want players to relate to the struggle to lose their homes, the fear of uncertainty, and the enduring impact of exile. ”
At the same time, he expressed his hope that the game would inspire curiosity and consciousness, encouraging players to explore Palestinian history beyond commonly-said stories.
AH/SAB