Tottenham playmaker Niko Kranjcar was instrumental in the victory, scoring two goals and setting up the third as Croatia maintained their unbeaten record in qualifying.
Kranjcar opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box after 17 minutes.
Four minutes later he netted his second, with yet another firm drive from outside the box that beat Maltese goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
Slaven Bilic s side?dominated the match and the likes of Luka Modric, Mladen Petric and Eduardo all had chances to score before Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic completed the victory, heading in Kranjcar s cross with eight minutes remaining.
Croatia top Group F with 10 points from four games, two points ahead of second-placed Greece, while Malta remain at the foot of the group without a point.
