# Liyla and The Shadows of War — user reviews > 99 indexed App Store user reviews of Liyla and The Shadows of War by Rasheed Abueideh, rated 4.60/5 from 160 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liyla-and-the-shadows-of-war/id1100839270/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liyla-and-the-shadows-of-war/id1100839270.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 136 · 4★ 7 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 10 ## What do users think of Liyla and The Shadows of War? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 💔 Emotionally powerful and moving experience - 🎨 Beautiful visuals and artwork - 🎵 Excellent sound design and music - 📖 Compelling and meaningful narrative - 🎮 Thought-provoking artistic expression - 👁️ Eye-opening awareness about war impacts - ⚡ Quick, impactful storytelling - 🌍 Raises important humanitarian issues **Cons** - ⏱️ Very short gameplay duration (5-20 minutes) - 🎮 Minimal actual gameplay mechanics - 🎯 Limited challenge or interactivity - 📊 Lacks depth and character development - ⚙️ Feels more like interactive story than game - 🔄 Limited replay value - 🎬 One-sided narrative perspective - 😕 Can be emotionally draining **Commonly reported bugs** - Control scheme placement (controls on right instead of left) - Some gameplay mechanics feel unpolished **Most requested features** - Longer, more detailed storyline - Enhanced gameplay mechanics and challenges - More graphic death animations - Additional sound effects and audio cues - Episodic content expansion - Control scheme options (left-side controls) - Multiple story perspectives or endings - More character development and backstory ## Newest reviews (19 of 99) ### 5/5 — Read Oneself’s Curiosity *2025-02-20* If you were Liyla or the Man in this game wouldn’t you also wonder why is this happening don’t get me wrong I 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 just…die? 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? I put quotations on “people” because they aren’t 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. ### 5/5 — Sadly Realistic *2025-02-19* 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. ### 5/5 — Emotional and true story *2025-02-15* This has happened over and over again. ### 5/5 — Hasbunallah wa Nimal Wakeel *2025-02-12, version 6.1* May Allah grant the people of Palestine Victory and shifa Ameen. ### 5/5 — Exceptional *2025-01-25, version 6.1* Short but to the point , apocalyptic scenario which is very pertinent to today as well sadly. Heart felt. ### 5/5 — The impossible game to win *2025-01-21* Download this and played myself, 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! ### 5/5 — Beautiful and heart wrenching *2025-01-14* I can’t believe that I have not heard of this game until recently. It is a short, but very powerful experience. I was in tears by the end. I am so grateful to the developer, and can’t wait to play his next game! ### 5/5 — beautiful and powerful *2025-01-03, version 6.1* honoured to support and help this beautiful game, the storytelling is magnificent and truly heartbreaking, i recommend everyone to download and play to support the artists who made it and educate yourself ❤️🖤 ### 5/5 — Best game to ever exist *2025-01-03, version 6.1* Amazing visuals, clear storyline that’s descriptive to explain the situation going on. Very powerful message and story, highly recommend everyone to play! ### 5/5 — Heartbreaking *2025-01-03* 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. ### 5/5 — Video Games as Art *2024-12-01* This work is simple and impactful. More video games should be like this. ### 5/5 — A heartbreaking journey *2024-02-13* 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. ### 5/5 — Published 8 years ago, but every bit as relevant today *2024-01-22* 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 weren’t 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. It’s 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 ### 5/5 — Accurate in the most terrifying way possible *2023-11-23* In the first five minutes i had to take off my headphones i was 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 🇵🇸 ### 5/5 — History Repeats Itself *2023-11-07* 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. ### 3/5 — sad *2022-01-28, version 6.1* sad game if only it was a little detailed would be bit better happening to most arab countries and afghanistan ### 5/5 — Truly moving game *2021-12-11* I never knew that an app on my phone could make me feel so alone, sad, and make me feel like I’m praying for my life may God bless those who sadly have to face tragic events like this in real life🙌🏻 ### 5/5 — Powerful. *2021-11-02* I never thought a game I downloaded from the App Store would make me emotionally vulnerable like this one did. Inshallah Palestine will be free and these heinous war crimes will come to an end. ### 5/5 — THIS IS NOT PROPAGANDA *2021-10-05* I found this game on the news app. I 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 my heart to see people like this. I love this game/story, and I wish you the best! -Matthew ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Le jeux *2025-02-12, version 6.1* Le jeux pue vraiment sa mère genre la calité mauvais puis il ne dure pas beaucoup de temps très mauvais ### 1/5 — This game is a disaster. *2021-05-30, version 6.1* Boooooring!!! No gameplay, no history. Another miss try for “serious” game under the mask of a political side. ### 1/5 — 😑 *2020-03-24* I just know that the war is so terrible and devastating ,that would kill the children,women and innocent people who that they have not any options at the start and end of the war!!! But you should know it was an amateur performance and absolutely we could try the other ways to impress people. But anyway, congratulations on your new anti-war movement ... فمن الله التوفیق ### 1/5 — Waste of time *2018-08-13, version 6.1* Not a game at all. Very boring. 2 minute ‘game play’. ### 1/5 — Pure propaganda *2017-04-10, version 6* It would be nice if they included the stories of all the Israeli girls blown up by Palestinian suicide bombers. This is nothing but pure one-sided crap that doesn't even stay truthful to the actual figures. I'd rate this zero stars if I could. ### 1/5 — Evil *2016-11-16, version 1.0* This is an evil untruthful piece of propaganda. ### 1/5 — Hi hateful *2016-11-02, version 1.0* Apple should be ashamed of having an app like this. The worst propaganda ever. ### 1/5 — Palestinian proganda *2016-11-02, version 1.0* Bias and bigotry, when will the Palestinians teach their children to love peace? ### 1/5 — Pure Propaganda. Not really a game. *2016-11-01, version 1.0* It actually is a decent demo of what could be a potential game in the future. But instead, this talented programmer decided to use his skills to fuel a purely one sided viewpoint of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Failing to portray all the unprovoked rocket attacks from Hamas on Israel shows how brainwashed these people really are. Free yourself from hate and free yourself from Hamas and maybe one day you'll enjoy the true benefits of living in peace. Kind of sick that Apple even allows this in their AppStore. ### 1/5 — Propaganda tool. Not a game. *2016-11-01, version 1.0* Beware of distorted portrayal of IDF. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 🇮🇶 *2025-12-21, version 6.1* بكتينا يا ليلى الله يلعن كل الاسرائليين وكل من له يد في دماركم ودمار جميع الشعوب حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيا اللهم عجل لوليك لفرج لاخذ حق الفلسطينين اللهم امين ### 5/5 — 🇵🇸❤️ *2025-09-23, version 6.1* beautiful game free palestine ### 5/5 — From libya *2025-08-20, version 6.1* all love for you 💟💟free palastine 🇵🇸🇱🇾 ### 5/5 — Based on actual events and likeness of a darker reality despite the games’ brief, fleeting nature *2025-06-04, version 6.1* 💔💔💔💔💔 ### 5/5 — Sad reality of being Palestinian *2025-03-26, version 6.1* I’m surprised Apple let this game be on this app since they are Zionist supporting Israel ### 5/5 — Amazing *2025-03-22, version 6.1* This is not anti semitic it is anti evil creatures ### 5/5 — Great work *2025-02-28, version 6.1* Well made ### 5/5 — Happy and Sad *2025-02-28* This game broke my 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! ### 5/5 — 🤧🤧🤧 *2025-02-26, version 6.1* I feel like I am there in real life I hope no one never experience what they experience free 🇵🇸🇵🇸 ### 5/5 — The best game in the world *2025-02-25, version 6.1* 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 it’s amazes me 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 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-18.*