The box of matches is an item in Alone in the Dark (1992) and Alone in the Dark 3, with different names in each game.
Alone in the Dark[]
The Matchbox is an item found in the Living Room on the second floor of Derceto, located to the left of the fireplace near the poker.
It is used to light the oil lamp. Unlike the Lighter, if the Matchbox gets wet in the waters near the end of the game, the item becomes useless.
Alone in the Dark 3[]
The box of matches is an item found in the deposit by the Saloon bar.
It is used to light the oil lamp, and light sources, like the candles on the Saloon's 2nd floor and in the Town Hall library to be able to read a book.