Detailed steps, unique tips, and video context for Match Factory Level 9697. Source video: Match Factory lvl 13559 take 2 #MatchFactory #WinnerWinner.
1Quick Steps
- 1.Clear Level 9697 by focusing on stacked items first and saving bar space for tricky matches.
- 2.Clear the edges of the board first to simplify the remaining layout.
- 3.Plan several moves ahead to avoid getting stuck with unmatchable items.
- 4.Use power-ups strategically when you're stuck or running low on moves.
- 5.Manage your collection bar space carefully - never let it fill up completely.
- 6.Use the shuffle power-up if you can't find any more visible matches.
Still stuck?
Try a different opening sequence, focus on tray space, or consider boosters.
!Pro Tips
- •Watch multiple walkthrough videos to compare different strategies before attempting.
- •Plan the entire level as a sequence, not individual moves - think four steps ahead.
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Unlock Strategy→Complete strategy guide — level 9697
Match Factory Level 9697 is one of those endgame puzzles that looks manageable at first glance but quickly reveals hidden complexity once you start moving pieces. Players who rush through the opening moves without a plan almost always find themselves with a full tray and no clear path forward. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to know to clear it efficiently on your next attempt.
Level 9697 in Context
At Level 9697 the margin for error is thin enough that a single careless pick-up can decide the run. The good news is that the same principles still work — excavation, tray economy, and sequencing — they simply have to be applied without the slack earlier levels provided.
What Makes Level 9697 Distinct
Level 9697 ships with 6 walkthrough steps and 2 pro tips — about 100 words of board-specific guidance. Reading those first is worth more than any general advice, because they describe this exact pile rather than Match Factory in general.
If you only remember one thing about Level 9697, remember the order of operations. The board is solvable; it is the sequence that players get wrong.
What Level 9697 Tests
- Move sequencing on Level 9697 — This step is about sequencing, and sequencing is what separates a two-attempt clear from a ten-attempt clear on a board like this.
- Rim control on Level 9697 — Outer pieces are the ones you can see but usually should not take first. Use them as a reserve so that when the tray needs a quick completion you already know where the third copy sits.
- Special-item handling on Level 9697 — Special items are worth chasing only after the board is readable. Taken early they eat bar space while their partners are still hidden, which is the opposite of what they are for.
How to Start: The Opening Phase
On Level 9697, what you do in the first ten seconds matters more than anything in the middle of the run. Many players jump straight for the most visible or shiniest items — but the better play is to systematically expose the pile.
Target the center-top of the board first. In most Match Factory layouts, the center pile has the highest item density and the most hidden items beneath. By breaking open the center early, you give yourself maximum flexibility for the rest of the level.
After opening the center, look for item clusters — spots where you can see 2 or more of the same type close together. Matching a cluster early locks in a quick 3-item match without consuming tray space for long. These early "free matches" are crucial for maintaining breathing room in your tray.
Tray Management: The Core Skill
Tray discipline is the single most important skill to bring to Level 9697. Unlike earlier stages where you can recover from a cluttered tray by matching your way out, this level's layout means a full tray is almost certainly a failed run.
Here's the key discipline to practice: commit to finishing one item type before picking up another. If you spot a green bottle and pick it up, your next two clicks should be hunting for the other two green bottles — not grabbing a coin or a red sneaker that caught your eye.
Also pay attention to how deeply buried certain items are. On boards like Level 9697, some item types appear mostly near the bottom of the pile. If you pick up one of them early but can't complete the trio for 10+ moves, you've effectively given up a tray slot for a long time. Prioritize item types that you can see at least two of before you start collecting.
Mid-Game Strategy
The mid-game phase on Level 9697 is when you need to shift from reactive clicking to proactive planning. You've probably got a rough sense of the board layout by now — use that knowledge.
The key mid-game skill is "look-ahead" — instead of clicking the next obvious match, trace 2–3 moves into the future. "If I pick up this yellow star now, what opens up? Can I complete the yellow star match in the next 2 clicks? What does that expose?" Players who think one move at a time in the mid-game almost always find themselves in trouble by the final third of the level.
Also watch for "dead end" item types — items where you can only see 1 copy and there's no way to know where the other two are. Avoid picking these up until you can see all three. Holding a dead-end item in your tray for 8+ moves while hunting for its partners is a classic trap on Level 9697.
Step-by-Step Analysis (6 phases)
- The mid-phase step is the pivot of the run: "Clear Level 9697 by focusing on stacked items first…" Prioritising is the whole skill here: rank the visible item types by how close they are to a trio, then work that list top-down instead of clicking whatever catches your eye.
- Step 2 is the one most players skip: "Clear the edges of the board first to simplify…" Edge work is about access: rim pieces rarely block anything important, so they are the safest place to spend clicks when you are waiting for a buried item to surface.
- The opening step sets the tone: "Plan several moves ahead to avoid getting stuck with…" This step is about sequencing, and sequencing is what separates a two-attempt clear from a ten-attempt clear on a board like this.
- This step is easy to misread as optional: "Use power-ups strategically when you're stuck or running low…" The rule with specials is simple: know where the other copies are before you pick one up. Otherwise the shiny piece becomes the reason your bar fills.
- The second phase narrows the board: "Manage your collection bar space carefully - never let…" The collection bar is the real clock on this level — not the move count. Every pick-up that does not move a trio closer to completion is effectively a lost slot, and slots are the resource you are actually managing.
- This is where the level starts to tighten: "Use the shuffle power-up if you can't find any…" The rule with specials is simple: know where the other copies are before you pick one up. Otherwise the shiny piece becomes the reason your bar fills.
Booster Strategy
Level 9697 is best approached as a no-booster run first, with boosters treated as a correction for a specific board state rather than an opening move. That framing matters: players who open with a booster on Level 9697 usually spend it before they know which item types are scarce, which is exactly the information the booster is supposed to buy them.
If you do reach for one on Level 9697, sequence it after a completed match rather than mid-trio. Finishing a match first returns slots to the tray, so the reshuffle or pull that follows can actually be acted on instead of admired.
Keep a rough coin budget for Level 9697: one booster per two attempts is a sane ceiling. If you are spending more than that, the fix is a change in approach — usually committing to fewer item types at once — rather than a bigger spend.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Panicking when the tray fills to 5–6 items and making random clicks hoping to get lucky.
- Starting the run without a mental plan for which item types to prioritize. The first 5 clicks should be intentional, not random.
- Neglecting to use the Undo button after a clear tray mistake. One Undo used immediately can save an entire run.
- Picking up items from too many different categories in the opening moves, filling the tray with unmatched pairs.
Pro Tips Explained
The 2 pro tips above come from the failure patterns that show up repeatedly on Level 9697. Taken together they point at one theme — move sequencing — which is the skill this particular board is really testing. Read them as a checklist before your next attempt rather than as background reading.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to clear Level 9697?
The walkthrough for Level 9697 is broken into 6 phases, backed by 2 pro tips and roughly 100 words of board-specific guidance. An efficient clear generally lands somewhere in the 20–35 move range depending on how the pile settles, and runs that stretch well past that usually indicate a clogged tray rather than bad luck.
What is the best booster to use on Level 9697?
The Fan booster is the most versatile choice for Level 9697. Use it during the mid-game when your tray has two or fewer items and the board layout has turned unfavourable. The Magnet booster is the better secondary option when you are missing the third copy of a type that seems permanently buried. Never fire either one into a nearly full tray — the board changes and you have no room to react.
Is Match Factory Level 9697 beatable without boosters?
Yes — Level 9697 sits in the endgame band of the game, and its 6-step walkthrough is designed to be followed without spending coins. The key is tray discipline: never collect from more than two or three item categories at once, and prioritize completing existing partial matches over picking up new items. Follow the step order above rather than improvising, because on this board the sequence matters more than raw speed.
Level 9697 is beatable with the right approach. Take your time with the opening moves, keep the tray clean, and trust the step-by-step process. If you're still struggling after a few attempts using this guide, try leaving the level and coming back later — sometimes a fresh perspective is all it takes. Good luck, and remember: the next level is always just one smart run away.
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