Colony Flow Level 173 is a challenging sneaker-shaped puzzle in Colony Flow that requires clearing sections in the right order: start with the dark perimeter and green upper region, then tackle the cyan toe and pink sole while leaving space for the separated purple tread and final cyan fragments.
The guide focuses on practical move order, which color groups to prioritize, and how to manage the limited space as you work through each section of the sneaker layout.
Colony Flow Level 173 Walkthrough
Colony Flow Level 173 is a layered sneaker puzzle that requires clearing a charcoal perimeter, green/lime upper, cyan toe, pink sole, and separated purple tread in the correct sequence.
The board appears complete before it actually is—the final fragments include green 16/3, pale-cyan 5, lime 15, blue 3, purple 30, and cyan 30, which must all drain into the central hole for victory.
Five white buffer pads provide routing space. The challenge is opening routes without trapping late-game pieces or filling every pad before the black and purple tread groups arrive.
Puzzle Layout and Objectives
The sneaker design layers multiple color groups that must be drained in phases:
- Perimeter and upper: Charcoal blocks frame the corners and lower edge. Green and lime groups fill the upper panels.
- Toe and sole: Cyan and blue pieces form the toe. Pink groups create the sole and heel.
- Tread and fragments: Purple pieces form a lower tread strip that separates late in the solve. The final fragments appear after the main silhouette is gone.
Keep one buffer pad free when black 45/48, pink sole traffic, and the purple tread overlap.
How to Play Colony Flow Level 173 - Step-by-Step Solution
1. Open the side lanes
Tap purple 22, blue 36, and lime/green 44 first. This clears the upper-side routes and lets the charcoal perimeter circulate without the large green stacks sealing the central hole.
2. Drain the upper section
Follow with purple 14/4, blue 31, black 34/21, and blue 37/36. Keep the central hole visible as the upper clusters thin.
Feed pale-cyan 24, green 35, lime 45, and cyan 30 to open the toe entrance. Pause if blue ants still occupy the right edge.
3. Route the middle groups
Clear the upper with:
- green/lime 33/28/27/24
- blue 30/29/28/26
Wait for the clusters to separate before adding pink cards. Rushing here closes the route the lower tread needs.
4. Clear the pink sole
Once the lower perimeter has room, play pink 22/27/24, purple 24, and black 45/48. Leave one white buffer pad free for the tread and final cyan cluster.
Opening pink while the charcoal border and blue toe traffic still fill the bottom edge strands the sole and tread pieces.
5. Finish the separated fragments
Drain the final groups:
- green 22/17/14/11
- pale-cyan 13/9/5
- lime 43/40/35/29
- blue 36/8/7/3
Then clear green 16/3, pale-cyan 5, lime 15, blue 3, purple 30, and cyan 30. The shoe may look empty before these pieces route. Wait for the purple 30 tread bar and cyan 30 cluster to vanish for victory.
Common Mistakes
- Opening pink sole cards while the charcoal frame and blue toe ants still fill the lower perimeter, which traps the sole fragments.
- Using all five pads during the green/lime upper phase, leaving no room for black 48 or the separated purple strip.
- Stopping when the main sneaker silhouette is gone. The purple 30 bar, small purple square, and cyan 30 cluster are still active.
Related Games
- Colony Flow Level 36 Walkthrough — Continue practicing Colony Flow’s color-routing and limited-buffer decisions with another dedicated level solution after mastering Level 173’s fragmented finish.
- Colony Flow Level 35 Walkthrough — This walkthrough is a useful follow-up for players looking for another board that rewards careful tap order and keeping routes open.
- Colony Flow Level 30 Walkthrough — Players who enjoyed planning around Level 173’s layered sneaker layout can use this guide for another focused Colony Flow puzzle solution.
Why does purple 22 lead this board?
Purple 22 and blue 36 open the lower and side lanes while lime/green 44 exposes the upper. The charcoal perimeter can then circulate without the large green stacks sealing the central route.