Last updated on November 28th, 2025 at 08:15 pm
Liyla and The Shadows of War – Adventure Game Review
Liyla and The Shadows of War is a Adventure/Reference game from Rasheed Abueideh, first launched in 22nd May 2016.
It’s rated 12+ and currently has 163+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Liyla and The Shadows of War Stand Out
Liyla and the shadows of war is a game based on actual events, it tells a story of little girl lives a war zone.
Description
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 where death is inevitable. These events are real and they will make you choose the hard way. Live or die!
Features
A story based on Actual events.
Witness the actual events of war from different point of view.
Emotional experience that will touch your heart.
Provoke different feelings in a short space of time.
Explore amazing atmosphere.
Challenging decision, events and puzzles awaiting for you.
Epic music and Sound effects.
This Adventure game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Liyla and The Shadows of War is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 27th July 2017
Recent improvements include:
New Languages
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Download & Availability
Liyla and The Shadows of War is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Liyla and The Shadows of War on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
All love for you free palastine.
Im surprised Apple let this game be on this app since they are Zionist supporting Israel.
This game broke our heart, to feel and slightly live even for 5 minutes the way Palestinian people have been living for over 60 years. Thank you for the game.
The story the characters the people that died during 2014 Gaza war and the ongoing 2023-present War against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, wallah its amazes us so so much how Israel could take a persons life, Much less 62000 people in Palestine and Lebanon losing 8000 Great people to help the people of Palestine when no one else would.
If you were Liyla or the Man in this game wouldnt you also wonder why is this happening dont get us wrong we died multiple times like how do The Characters survive in such conditions, little do you know that THIS is happening and Why? Just,like,why? Why are The Palestinians getting bombed and striked left,right,and center? Why when The Palestinian KIDS are playing on the beach they are getting attacked, why are these people wanting them to justdie? Why when a Palestinian goes into the ambulance also gets striked? Why are The Palestians running?And from who? Why are these people bombing The Palestinians and still to this day? We put quotations on people because they arent people they lack basic human decency,morals and a heart. This game should open our eyes and hearts at least a little bit and cause curiosity for the uneducated to educate themselves and learn more on what HAS BEEN going on, not what the western media want you to know.
A depiction of the sad reality of the life of a Palestinian under occupation. Developer did a great job. Support Palestinian developers to give them a voice.
This has happened over and over again.
Download this and played ourselves, to see before recommending to anyone. It is the impossible game to win. No matter what you try, you will get killed, you will starve or your family will die and yu will suffer until you die. Just like the genocide happening rn in Gaza, it is realistic.
We cant believe that we have not heard of this game until recently. It is a short, but very powerful experience. We were in tears by the end. We are so grateful to the developer, and cant wait to play his next game.
Despite it being made in 2014, the conditions of Gaza are still the same today. Puts you in the shoes of a Palestinian in Gaza, and the life-or-death decisions one has to make.
This work is simple and impactful. More video games should be like this.
This is a devastating story about actions, choices, and the consequences when up against a violent force that has no regard for human life. Based on real world violence, the ending leaves you with a profound sense of loss, and the facts and details provided truly are staggering. The game is short, and worth at least one play through.
This game allows you to feel the anguish, despair and trauma of the everyday Gazan. Unbelievable that the atrocities we have witnessed so far in 2023 werent unprecedented. Gazans are no strangers to the horrible war crimes committed against them. Games are intended to bring out our emotions and this game definitely excels in that. Do not listen to the reviews that seek to delegitimise this game. Its heartbreaking that such an old game is still so relevant to this day. War is horrible and devastating. While several games glorify war and desensitize us, Liyla makes us see war for what it really is.
In the first five minutes we had to take off our headphones we were already so on edge. Imagining feeling that way non stop for 75 years. The people of palestine are bleeding. From the river to the sea.
The fact this was supposed to represent something that happened in the past but is actually happening 100x over to this day. Short and to the point.
We never knew that an app on our phone could make us feel so alone, sad, and make us feel like Im praying for our life may God bless those who sadly have to face tragic events like this in real life.
We never thought a game we downloaded from the App Store would make us emotionally vulnerable like this one did. Inshallah Palestine will be free and these heinous war crimes will come to an end.
We found this game on the news app. We read up about it and it is actually based on true events, like it says. The amount of people immediately assuming that this game is propaganda for no reason is just stupid and sickening. Our society is getting more and more toxic and it breaks our heart to see people like this. We love this game/story, and we wish you the best! -Matthew.
This game is truly amazing. Gives you a brief understanding of what our brother and sisters are facing of the daily in Palestine, you have our respect. May god bless you.
Amazing game. Ignore all the 1-star reviews from Zionist genocide deniers :).
Yall did amazing. The story was beautiful and it shattered our heart. Loved it.
The best documentary Ive ever seen. Thanks buddies.
We love this game it had us addicted at the moment we started playing.it is such a good game we found ourselves crying at the end.SO DONT HATE.
We still dont know what to write as a title. What a ingenious, soul gripping way to describe such horrific events! The story came alive the was you masterfully crafted your artwork together. Wow.
We just downloaded this game, and it is actually one of the best games ever. Maybe most of people wont understand what we really mean because we are playing this game and our emotions are wallowing around just for the idea that this happens in our hometown country. Rasheed, we wish you all the best Brother. You deserve it. Regards, Mathias Yussif Ibrahim.
Ignore the people saying this game is a propaganda. Just play the game and judge for yourself. PROS: The game puts you in the shoes of a family living in a war zone. Showing you how the slightest of mistakes could result in the death of your family and yourself. Even the safest of decisions could cause yourself and daughter to die. We cried during one part and really felt for the father. CONS: Since the game is following Limbo vibe, it wouldve been much better if the deaths were more graphic tbh. It wouldve landed the point more. Also the game is pretty short compared to what we expected. The game ended Just when we were about to get emerced in the story. OVERALL: Story: 10/10 Gameplay: 4/10.
While we can hardly imagine the horror of living in a war zone this was a poor attempt at demonstrating that. The entire game takes about 10 minutes to complete. Theres zero challenge or thinking involved. The developers could have built something quite different and engaging with the same storyline but they fall short here.
Maybe will be good propaganda one day but needs better animations and a gravity ,"based on true events" you should definitely put more work into this maybe episodic thing? Overall right now this is garbage but all those bombs that where dropped on thousands upon thousands of innocent people is really sad just to kill some thugs with pkms an aks only … :/.
When your seen one star we think that come from jewish.
One of the most amazing game on the app store God bless you Rasheed.
As others have noted, this isn't a traditional 'game'. It's more important than that, as it puts you through real events that give you at least some impression of what it is like to be a civilian family living in a war zone. You don't play it because it is fun, you play it to try to understand, and learn its story.
We heard about this game during gdc2017 #1ReasonToBe session. Hearing stories how Rasheed ended up making this game made us reconsider bout what actually determines category of game. Presentation in this game is really great, we love it.
The story though brief, was incredibly powerful. It gives you a good look into what must have been like to be a victim of war. Beautiful artwork and story.
This is so brilliant and smart , after what happened to little girl we almost cried , the song made us more emotional. It's not that really game but it's so amazing , we should have games more like this.
We don't understand how the portrayal of an experience is propaganda. The fact that so few people understand this experience is what we would spend more time mulling over. We don't understand why humanity is lost on those who know what it's like to have their humanity stripped. We should be kind to each other – and unkind to suppression and intimidation. For those who gave it one star because you don't feel like being bummed or judged – shame on you.
Goes far beyond a regular game in making one both think and feel.
Every free man and the fake Zionist regime's intellectual knows that what a tragedy in the Gaza Strip. Isis is also the same regimen.
A game that states reality , well done developers , free Palestine.
The story was great until then his sister and wife died it was so sad that's why we're giving it 5 stars.
It is a work of art! But it needs to be longer. If you made more even side stories we would play them. Please make more.
Yes, this game is quite short, but the experience is still there. It's an emotional game and once again, even though it is short, it still can strike your heart. We think this game could have potential if made longer to be a really really great game.
We love this game,thanks for making this game.
It is a very short game but is very sad and has a strong meaning… It is a little bit like LIMBO.
Can not stand injustice our brothers This is the god promise.
What an amazing work showing that the darkness and the injustice Palestinians are facing every single day … Thanks for remembering us what had happened at that time. We hope you create app for story of Syrians.
It,s very very good. Tank,s tank,s tank,s . This is very beautiful.
If you are checking the review before trying the game, just stop and play the game. Gives you an entirely different perspective of the problems faced by so many in the world.
We were honestly amazed. Yes. It was short, but that was the point. Life was cut short. Thank you for this insight.
First and foremost, this really isn't much of a game despite being free…the concept and ideas are flawless, but if this would have been turned into a full length game where you use stealth and make hard decisions throughout the game – to us that would have made this a masterpiece. But we give the developer credit for making such an honest 'game' as more of these need to be made…so last thought to the developer, if you were to remake the game and stretch it out to a full length game with some polish around the gameplay, we'd gladly pay 5 bucs as you have something really special here…it reminds us of 'this war of ours' in a way as its from the perspective of the civilians.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 6.1
- Size: 79.41 MB
- iOS: 6.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence
- Developer: Rasheed Abueideh
Last updated: 27th July 2017 | Genre: Adventure, Reference | Developer: Rasheed Abueideh