Michael J. Matheny

Biography

Matheny designed board games primarily in the late 1970s and early 1980s; 10 of his titles are listed in our database. His work appeared with publishers such as Battleline, Avalon Hill and Yaquinto. Credits under Michael Matheny / Michael S. Matheny / Michael J. Matheny are believed to refer to the same person based on release years and style.

Career

Active between 1979 and 1981, Matheny produced several tactical games emphasizing hexagon grids, grid movement and dice rolling. He holds both solo and co‑designer credits and collaborated multiple times with J. Stephen Peek; Don Greenwood and Kerry Anderson also appear as co-designers. His titles frequently use action points and critical hit/failure mechanics, underlining close tactical combat.

Most Famous Games

His best-known games include Circus Maximus (1979), later republished by Avalon Hill, and Gladiator (1981). Other notable titles in our list are Starfall (1979), Marine: 2002 (1979) and Hero: A Game of Adventure in the Catacombs (1980). Circus Maximus is associated with a Charles S. Roberts award for Best Pre-Twentieth Century Game.

Design Style

Matheny's designs are tactical and rules-focused: hex and grid systems, dice randomness and action points recur across his work. He operates between classic wargame frameworks and thematic sci‑fi/fighting games, often collaborating with other designers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Players who enjoy tactical hex‑based wargames with dice and clear action mechanics will find Matheny's games focused on combat and maneuver.