diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dfd6b29..22ee488 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,18 +108,18 @@ enum PaymentResult {
 }
 
 fun describe(result: PaymentResult): String {
-    var description = ""
-    match (result) {
-        PaymentResult::Accepted(id) -> { description = id }
-        PaymentResult::Rejected(reason) -> { description = reason }
-        PaymentResult::Pending -> { description = "pending" }
+    return match (result) {
+        PaymentResult::Accepted(id) -> id
+        PaymentResult::Rejected(reason) -> reason
+        PaymentResult::Pending -> "pending"
     }
-    return description
 }
 ```
 
 Enum matches must contain each variant exactly once. Variant payload arity is
-checked during Gotlin compilation.
+checked during Gotlin compilation. A match used as an expression also requires
+every arm to return the same type. Block-style statement matches remain
+available for side effects.
 
 ## Null safety
 
diff --git a/examples/enums.gt b/examples/enums.gt
index 6a60506..ec69ef7 100644
--- a/examples/enums.gt
+++ b/examples/enums.gt
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ enum PaymentResult {
 }
 
 fun describe(result: PaymentResult): String {
-    var description = ""
-    match (result) {
-        PaymentResult::Accepted(id) -> { description = "accepted " + id }
-        PaymentResult::Rejected(reason) -> { description = "rejected " + reason }
-        PaymentResult::Pending -> { description = "pending" }
+    return match (result) {
+        PaymentResult::Accepted(id) -> "accepted " + id
+        PaymentResult::Rejected(reason) -> "rejected " + reason
+        PaymentResult::Pending -> "pending"
     }
-    return description
 }
 
 fun main() {
diff --git a/internal/lang/ast.go b/internal/lang/ast.go
index a0dfa9e..600c97b 100644
--- a/internal/lang/ast.go
+++ b/internal/lang/ast.go
@@ -217,6 +217,19 @@ type MatchCase struct {
 	Body                  []Stmt
 }
 
+type MatchExpr struct {
+	Value Expr
+	Cases []MatchExprCase
+}
+
+func (MatchExpr) exprNode() {}
+
+type MatchExprCase struct {
+	EnumName, VariantName string
+	Bindings              []string
+	Value                 Expr
+}
+
 type SelectCase struct {
 	Source Expr
 	Body   []Stmt
diff --git a/internal/lang/coroutines.go b/internal/lang/coroutines.go
index 0ecbe9f..404f8f1 100644
--- a/internal/lang/coroutines.go
+++ b/internal/lang/coroutines.go
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ func expressionUsesCoroutines(expr Expr) bool {
 		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return statementsUseCoroutines(e.Body)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if expressionUsesCoroutines(e.Value) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if expressionUsesCoroutines(matchCase.Value) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case SelectorExpr:
 		return expressionUsesCoroutines(e.Receiver)
 	case BinaryExpr:
diff --git a/internal/lang/enum_test.go b/internal/lang/enum_test.go
index c36b059..c89e22b 100644
--- a/internal/lang/enum_test.go
+++ b/internal/lang/enum_test.go
@@ -77,3 +77,68 @@ fun main() { println(Status::PendingReservation) }`)
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGenerateExhaustiveMatchExpression(t *testing.T) {
+	prog, err := Parse(`package demo
+enum AccountType { BASIC, SAVINGS }
+fun interestRate(accountType: AccountType): Double {
+    return match (accountType) {
+        AccountType::BASIC -> 0.0
+        AccountType::SAVINGS -> 0.02
+    }
+}`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := GenerateGo(prog)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{"func() float64", "case AccountTypeBASIC:", "return 0.0", "case AccountTypeSAVINGS:", "return 0.02", `panic("unreachable exhaustive match")`} {
+		if !strings.Contains(string(out), want) {
+			t.Fatalf("missing %q:\n%s", want, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGeneratePayloadMatchExpression(t *testing.T) {
+	prog, err := Parse(`package demo
+enum Outcome { Success(String), Failure(String) }
+fun message(outcome: Outcome): String {
+    return match (outcome) {
+        Outcome::Success(value) -> value
+        Outcome::Failure(reason) -> reason
+    }
+}`)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := GenerateGo(prog)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []string{"switch gotlinMatch", "value := gotlinMatch", "return value", "return reason"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(string(out), want) {
+			t.Fatalf("missing %q:\n%s", want, out)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRejectInvalidMatchExpression(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		source string
+		want   string
+	}{
+		{`package demo enum State { On, Off } fun value(state: State): Int { return match (state) { State::On -> 1 } }`, "missing Off"},
+		{`package demo enum State { On, Off } fun value(state: State): Int { return match (state) { State::On -> 1 State::Off -> "off" } }`, "has type String, expected Int"},
+	} {
+		prog, err := Parse(test.source)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		_, err = GenerateGo(prog)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.want) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected %q, got %v", test.want, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/lang/generate_go.go b/internal/lang/generate_go.go
index bc59dfc..cd4b4b5 100644
--- a/internal/lang/generate_go.go
+++ b/internal/lang/generate_go.go
@@ -1679,6 +1679,8 @@ func (g *goGenerator) expr(expr Expr, expectedType string) (string, error) {
 			return "", err
 		}
 		return receiver + "[" + index + "]", nil
+	case MatchExpr:
+		return g.valueMatch(e, expectedType)
 	case EnumVariantExpr:
 		if e.EnumName == "Result" {
 			base, args, ok := parseGenericType(expectedType)
@@ -1743,6 +1745,128 @@ func (g *goGenerator) expr(expr Expr, expectedType string) (string, error) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (g *goGenerator) valueMatch(match MatchExpr, expectedType string) (string, error) {
+	enumName := strings.TrimPrefix(g.exprType(match.Value), "*")
+	if enumName == "" && len(match.Cases) > 0 {
+		enumName = match.Cases[0].EnumName
+	}
+	decl, ok := g.enums[enumName]
+	if !ok {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("match value is not a known enum")
+	}
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, c := range match.Cases {
+		if c.EnumName != enumName {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("match case %s::%s does not match enum %s", c.EnumName, c.VariantName, enumName)
+		}
+		if seen[c.VariantName] {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("duplicate match case %s::%s", enumName, c.VariantName)
+		}
+		seen[c.VariantName] = true
+		variant := enumVariant(decl, c.VariantName)
+		if variant == nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("unknown variant %s::%s", enumName, c.VariantName)
+		}
+		if len(c.Bindings) != len(variant.PayloadTypes) {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("match case %s::%s expects %d bindings", enumName, c.VariantName, len(variant.PayloadTypes))
+		}
+	}
+	for _, variant := range decl.Variants {
+		if !seen[variant.Name] {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("non-exhaustive match for %s: missing %s", enumName, variant.Name)
+		}
+	}
+	resultType := expectedType
+	if resultType == "" || resultType == "Any" {
+		for _, c := range match.Cases {
+			variant := enumVariant(decl, c.VariantName)
+			g.pushScope()
+			for i, binding := range c.Bindings {
+				g.defineType(binding, variant.PayloadTypes[i])
+			}
+			armType := g.exprType(c.Value)
+			g.popScope()
+			if armType != "" {
+				resultType = armType
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if resultType == "" || resultType == "Unit" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("match expression result type cannot be inferred")
+	}
+	for _, c := range match.Cases {
+		variant := enumVariant(decl, c.VariantName)
+		g.pushScope()
+		for i, binding := range c.Bindings {
+			g.defineType(binding, variant.PayloadTypes[i])
+		}
+		armType := g.exprType(c.Value)
+		g.popScope()
+		if armType != "" && armType != resultType {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf("match expression arm %s::%s has type %s, expected %s", enumName, c.VariantName, armType, resultType)
+		}
+	}
+	value, err := g.expr(match.Value, enumName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	g.matchCounter++
+	matchName := fmt.Sprintf("gotlinMatch%d", g.matchCounter)
+	var out strings.Builder
+	out.WriteString("func() ")
+	out.WriteString(mapGoType(resultType))
+	out.WriteString(" { ")
+	if enumIsString(decl) {
+		out.WriteString("switch ")
+		out.WriteString(value)
+		out.WriteString(" { ")
+		for _, c := range match.Cases {
+			arm, err := g.expr(c.Value, resultType)
+			if err != nil {
+				return "", err
+			}
+			out.WriteString("case ")
+			out.WriteString(enumName + c.VariantName)
+			out.WriteString(": return ")
+			out.WriteString(arm)
+			out.WriteString("; ")
+		}
+		out.WriteString("}; ")
+	} else {
+		out.WriteString("switch ")
+		out.WriteString(matchName)
+		out.WriteString(" := ")
+		out.WriteString(value)
+		out.WriteString(".(type) { ")
+		for _, c := range match.Cases {
+			variant := enumVariant(decl, c.VariantName)
+			g.pushScope()
+			out.WriteString("case *")
+			out.WriteString(enumName + c.VariantName)
+			out.WriteString(": ")
+			for i, binding := range c.Bindings {
+				g.defineType(binding, variant.PayloadTypes[i])
+				out.WriteString(binding)
+				out.WriteString(" := ")
+				out.WriteString(matchName)
+				out.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf(".Value%d; ", i))
+			}
+			arm, err := g.expr(c.Value, resultType)
+			g.popScope()
+			if err != nil {
+				return "", err
+			}
+			out.WriteString("return ")
+			out.WriteString(arm)
+			out.WriteString("; ")
+		}
+		out.WriteString("}; ")
+	}
+	out.WriteString(`panic("unreachable exhaustive match") }()`)
+	return out.String(), nil
+}
+
 func (g *goGenerator) emitJSONDecodeSupport() {
 	g.line("func gotlinJSONDecode[T any](body []byte) GotlinResult[T] {")
 	g.indentLevel++
@@ -2883,6 +3007,22 @@ func exprUsesName(expr Expr, name string, shadowed bool) bool {
 			}
 		}
 		return false
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprUsesName(e.Value, name, shadowed) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			caseShadowed := shadowed
+			for _, binding := range matchCase.Bindings {
+				if binding == name {
+					caseShadowed = true
+				}
+			}
+			if exprUsesName(matchCase.Value, name, caseShadowed) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		lambdaShadowed := shadowed
 		if e.ImplicitIt && name == "it" {
@@ -3044,6 +3184,12 @@ func (g *goGenerator) exprType(expr Expr) string {
 		if _, args, ok := parseGenericType(g.exprType(e.Receiver)); ok && len(args) > 0 {
 			return args[len(args)-1]
 		}
+	case MatchExpr:
+		for _, c := range e.Cases {
+			if typ := g.exprType(c.Value); typ != "" {
+				return typ
+			}
+		}
 	case EnumVariantExpr:
 		return e.EnumName
 	case NonNullExpr:
@@ -3280,6 +3426,15 @@ func exprUsesPrintln(expr Expr) bool {
 		return exprUsesPrintln(e.Left) || exprUsesPrintln(e.Right)
 	case SelectorExpr:
 		return exprUsesPrintln(e.Receiver)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprUsesPrintln(e.Value) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if exprUsesPrintln(matchCase.Value) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return usesPrintln(e.Body)
 	}
@@ -3306,6 +3461,15 @@ func exprUsesRunCatching(expr Expr) bool {
 		return exprUsesRunCatching(e.Left) || exprUsesRunCatching(e.Right)
 	case SelectorExpr:
 		return exprUsesRunCatching(e.Receiver)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprUsesRunCatching(e.Value) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if exprUsesRunCatching(matchCase.Value) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return usesRunCatching(e.Body)
 	}
@@ -3332,6 +3496,15 @@ func exprUsesTimerBuiltins(expr Expr) bool {
 		return exprUsesTimerBuiltins(e.Left) || exprUsesTimerBuiltins(e.Right)
 	case SelectorExpr:
 		return exprUsesTimerBuiltins(e.Receiver)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprUsesTimerBuiltins(e.Value) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if exprUsesTimerBuiltins(matchCase.Value) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return usesTimerBuiltins(e.Body)
 	}
@@ -3358,6 +3531,15 @@ func exprUsesEveryBuiltin(expr Expr) bool {
 		return exprUsesEveryBuiltin(e.Left) || exprUsesEveryBuiltin(e.Right)
 	case SelectorExpr:
 		return exprUsesEveryBuiltin(e.Receiver)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprUsesEveryBuiltin(e.Value) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if exprUsesEveryBuiltin(matchCase.Value) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return usesEveryBuiltin(e.Body)
 	}
@@ -3485,6 +3667,11 @@ func usedImportAliases(program *Program) map[string]bool {
 			for _, value := range e.Values {
 				walkExpr(value)
 			}
+		case MatchExpr:
+			walkExpr(e.Value)
+			for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+				walkExpr(matchCase.Value)
+			}
 		case LambdaExpr:
 			for _, param := range e.Params {
 				markType(param.Type)
diff --git a/internal/lang/parser.go b/internal/lang/parser.go
index 0de8dad..711bc29 100644
--- a/internal/lang/parser.go
+++ b/internal/lang/parser.go
@@ -793,6 +793,68 @@ func (p *parser) parseMatch() (Stmt, error) {
 	return MatchStmt{Value: value, Cases: cases}, nil
 }
 
+func (p *parser) parseMatchExpr() (Expr, error) {
+	if _, err := p.expect(tokenLParen, "expected '(' after match"); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	value, err := p.parseExpr(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if _, err := p.expect(tokenRParen, "expected ')' after match value"); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if _, err := p.expect(tokenLBrace, "expected '{' after match value"); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var cases []MatchExprCase
+	for !p.check(tokenRBrace) && !p.check(tokenEOF) {
+		enumName, err := p.expect(tokenIdent, "expected enum name in match case")
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if _, err := p.expect(tokenDoubleColon, "expected '::' in match case"); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		variant, err := p.expect(tokenIdent, "expected variant name")
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		var bindings []string
+		if p.match(tokenLParen) {
+			if !p.check(tokenRParen) {
+				for {
+					binding, err := p.expect(tokenIdent, "expected variant binding")
+					if err != nil {
+						return nil, err
+					}
+					bindings = append(bindings, binding.lexeme)
+					if !p.match(tokenComma) {
+						break
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if _, err := p.expect(tokenRParen, "expected ')' after variant bindings"); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
+		if _, err := p.expect(tokenArrow, "expected '->' after match pattern"); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		result, err := p.parseExpr(0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		cases = append(cases, MatchExprCase{EnumName: enumName.lexeme, VariantName: variant.lexeme, Bindings: bindings, Value: result})
+		p.match(tokenComma)
+		p.match(tokenSemicolon)
+	}
+	if _, err := p.expect(tokenRBrace, "expected '}' after match"); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return MatchExpr{Value: value, Cases: cases}, nil
+}
+
 func (p *parser) parseSelect() (Stmt, error) {
 	if _, err := p.expect(tokenLBrace, "expected '{' after select"); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -1016,6 +1078,8 @@ func (p *parser) parsePrefix() (Expr, error) {
 		return p.parsePostfix(expr)
 	case tokenLBrace:
 		return p.parseLambdaExpr()
+	case tokenMatch:
+		return p.parseMatchExpr()
 	case tokenBang, tokenMinus, tokenAmp, tokenStar:
 		value, err := p.parseExpr(7)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/lang/references.go b/internal/lang/references.go
index 9ef96be..12c9cab 100644
--- a/internal/lang/references.go
+++ b/internal/lang/references.go
@@ -133,6 +133,11 @@ func normalizeExprTypes(expression Expr, normalize func(string) string) {
 		for _, item := range value.Values {
 			normalizeExprTypes(item, normalize)
 		}
+	case MatchExpr:
+		normalizeExprTypes(value.Value, normalize)
+		for _, item := range value.Cases {
+			normalizeExprTypes(item.Value, normalize)
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		for i := range value.Params {
 			value.Params[i].Type = normalize(value.Params[i].Type)
diff --git a/internal/lang/semantics.go b/internal/lang/semantics.go
index 16df2df..dc4cfa4 100644
--- a/internal/lang/semantics.go
+++ b/internal/lang/semantics.go
@@ -225,6 +225,15 @@ func (c *mutabilityChecker) checkExpr(expr Expr) error {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if err := c.checkExpr(e.Value); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if err := c.checkExpr(matchCase.Value); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		bindings := map[string]bool{}
 		if e.ImplicitIt {
diff --git a/internal/lang/sql.go b/internal/lang/sql.go
index ca25899..faaa20e 100644
--- a/internal/lang/sql.go
+++ b/internal/lang/sql.go
@@ -1144,6 +1144,15 @@ func exprMatches(expr Expr, match func(Expr) bool) bool {
 		return exprMatches(e.Receiver, match)
 	case IndexExpr:
 		return exprMatches(e.Receiver, match) || exprMatches(e.Index, match)
+	case MatchExpr:
+		if exprMatches(e.Value, match) {
+			return true
+		}
+		for _, matchCase := range e.Cases {
+			if exprMatches(matchCase.Value, match) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	case LambdaExpr:
 		return stmtsMatch(e.Body, match)
 	}
diff --git a/tools/vscode-gotlin/scripts/validate.js b/tools/vscode-gotlin/scripts/validate.js
index 622b708..b27ef99 100644
--- a/tools/vscode-gotlin/scripts/validate.js
+++ b/tools/vscode-gotlin/scripts/validate.js
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ for (const declaration of [
 
 const prefixes = new Set(Object.values(snippets).map((snippet) => snippet.prefix));
 for (const prefix of [
-  "dataclass", "tablerow", "embed", "coroutinescope", "launch", "async", "enum", "match", "mapto", "safe", "nonnull", "resultfun", "resultmatch", "defer", "foreach", "sqlfetch",
+  "dataclass", "tablerow", "embed", "coroutinescope", "launch", "async", "enum", "match", "matchvalue", "mapto", "safe", "nonnull", "resultfun", "resultmatch", "defer", "foreach", "sqlfetch",
   "sqlsingle", "sqliterator", "sqlinsertnothing", "sqlinsertupdate", "sqlupdatereturning"
 ]) {
   assert(prefixes.has(prefix), `snippets are missing prefix ${prefix}`);
diff --git a/tools/vscode-gotlin/snippets/gotlin.code-snippets b/tools/vscode-gotlin/snippets/gotlin.code-snippets
index a6aa77e..be95183 100644
--- a/tools/vscode-gotlin/snippets/gotlin.code-snippets
+++ b/tools/vscode-gotlin/snippets/gotlin.code-snippets
@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@
     ],
     "description": "Exhaustive match over enum variants"
   },
+  "Exhaustive Match Expression": {
+    "prefix": "matchvalue",
+    "body": [
+      "val ${1:value} = match (${2:result}) {",
+      "    ${3:Result}::${4:Success}(${5:item}) -> ${5:item}",
+      "    ${3:Result}::${6:Failure}(${7:reason}) -> ${7:reason}",
+      "    $0",
+      "}"
+    ],
+    "description": "Return a typed value from an exhaustive enum match"
+  },
   "Recursive Structural Mapping": {
     "prefix": "mapto",
     "body": ["val ${1:target} = ${2:source}.mapTo<${3:Target}>()"],