Liyla and the Shadows of War

Rasheed Abueideh

About this game

GDC 2017 talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVSY4My1JIY&t=1s

When you live in war zone and death is hunting everyone, things will look different and choices become harder. Face your fate in an unjust war to survive with your family from the shadows of war.

Time is running against you, your family is in danger and there is nowhere to hide or to do but to get them out of home through a hero journey to a safer place.

Shooting and bombing everywhere and it will hunt you unless you make fast decisions as you progress through different events. These events are real and they will make you choose the hard way. Live or die!​

Ratings and reviews

It was short, sad and emotional. I was just looking to play something like this which would get over quickly so I don't care about 20 min length. Even though it was not exactly a game and was story-driven, I enjoyed it a lot more than in actual game. The music score in the background plus additional sounds actually scared me. It delivered a good message despite how sad the ending was.

Deeply moving, and uses the medium of the sidescroller in an innovative way. Missiles appear with no warning, a mechanic that would be frustrating in a normal game, but here is used to great affect to allow the player to intuitively understand the uncertainty and danger of traveling while under siege. Would recommend watching the documentary "Ambulance" by Mohamed Jabaly, about civilians living through the same war.

It's touching and a very good game. It shares the part of the world which is still suffering from injustice and cruelty. The deep message is there because in reality, even if u gave the choices, people are dying because of the war. It's quite emotional and very short indeed but nevertheless it is a great game.