Matrix Games are free-form, argument-driven wargames created by Chris Engle in 1988. Players take turns proposing an action and making a short, structured argument (typically action → intended result → reasons) while others offer supporting or counter-arguments; a facilitator (umpire) then adjudicates, often by weighting likelihoods and resolving outcomes (sometimes with dice).

Modern handbooks describe as a well-practised technique that compels players to justify why their move should succeed, enabling rapid comparison of courses of action and systematic exploration of “what if?” questions across any context.

They are widely used in professional settings because they emphasise creativity, intent, and interaction between multiple actors, while keeping rules light and facilitation straightforward, useful for education, planning, and policy analysis.

For scenario analysis, the benefits are direct:

1. transparent reasoning: assumptions are stated as arguments and recorded;
2. fast iteration: teams can explore many branches cheaply;
3. multi-actor dynamics: competing narratives collide and are resolved in play; and
4. decision support: participants compare options, identify indicators and risks, and refine plans in cycles of argue-adjudicate-update.