Dreams on a Pillow: Palestinian Video Game on Nakba Raises Over $200,000

Palestinian video game designer Rasheed Abueideh is bringing the story of the Nakba to a global audience through his latest project, dreams on a pillow. 

The side-scrolling stealth game, deeply personal to him, portrays the forced displacement of Palestinians in 1948.

Following a highly successful crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $200,000, Abueideh and his team can now fully dedicate themselves to the game’s development. 

“Making video games is not an easy task here," Abueideh said from the occupied West Bank. "Ultimately, we’re in a war zone, and the goal is survival at the end of the day.”

A Story Rooted in Palestinian Memory

The Nakba-themed game follows Omm, a Palestinian mother forcibly evicted from her home during the Nakba. In her distress, she mistakenly carries a pillow, believing it to be her child. 

Throughout her harrowing journey from the village of Tantoura to a refugee camp in Lebanon, she clings to the pillow, struggling with both physical survival and psychological trauma.

A key game mechanic revolves around this emotional attachment: when Omm holds the pillow, she can focus but moves sluggishly. If she drops it, she moves faster but loses mental clarity, forcing players to navigate the world through strategic choices.

“I didn’t think it was a true story at first,” Abueideh said. “But after researching, I found first-hand accounts confirming that it actually happened.” 

He was first introduced to the story through an Arab anthology series and was deeply moved by its emotional weight.

Amplifying the Palestinian Narrative Through Gaming

Abueideh is no stranger to using video games as a medium for storytelling. 

In 2016, he released Liyla & The Shadows of War, a short but powerful game about Palestine, developed voluntarily without financial backing.

This time, with a seven-member team working remotely from Europe, Jordan, and Kuwait, he aims to create a more expansive experience. Beyond Omm’s personal struggle, Dreams on a Pillow will showcase Palestinian cities before they were devastated by war, allowing players to witness the vibrant streets that once existed before they were reduced to rubble.  

For Abueideh, the ultimate goal is to foster understanding and empathy. “It matters to me that people see the bigger picture of the Palestinian struggle,” he said. “It’s one big ongoing story that started long ago and hasn’t ended.” 

With funding secured for the first production phase, Dreams on a Pillow is set for release late next year. 

Abueideh hopes continued support will ensure the project reaches completion, helping to keep Palestinian history alive through interactive storytelling.