Palestinian pseudo-stealth game Dreams on a Pillow paints a difficult, poetic picture in its first look at gameplay
Dreams on a Pillow is a pseudo-stealth adventure game developed by Palestinian developer Rasheed Abueideh, announced in late 2024. The game draws inspiration from a Palestinian folktale centered on a young woman named Khadra and is set during the Nakba, the 1948 event in which Israel violently displaced Palestinians and dispossessed them of their land and homes.
Abueideh created the game as an emotional response to the attacks on Gaza that began in 2023, giving the project profound personal and cultural significance. The narrative follows Khadra as she attempts to flee her village with her newborn child in the aftermath of a devastating massacre, weaving together historical trauma with traditional Palestinian storytelling traditions.
The developer has now released a first look at the game’s gameplay, offering players a glimpse into its poetic and challenging approach to difficult subject matter. The project is currently in its second round of crowdfunding, continuing to secure support for development. The game aims to explore themes of displacement, survival, and cultural resilience through a combination of interactive narrative and stealth-based gameplay mechanics that reflect the emotional and practical realities of Khadra’s desperate journey.