According to the exit polls, the two major coalitions win 56 seats each, followed by MOST (Bridge) with 18 seats.
Agence France-Presse (AFP), Reuters, DPA and APA as well as regional media reported about the tie, saying that Bridge could play a crucial role in the formation of the new government.
AFP said earlier the race would be very close, as did the BBC and APA, while Reuters predicted that the HDZ-led conservatives would have a slight lead.
AFP said the left hoped to win the election thanks to the good management of the migrant crisis, with empathy towards refugees on the one hand and firmness towards neighbouring countries on the other. Because of that, some voters "forgot" that the left failed to kickstart the economy for a long time, while the Patriotic Coalition condemned the government's economic results and based its campaign on patriotic values, it added.
The HDZ has accused the government of Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic "of being soft and ineffectual in handling the migrant issue," Reuters said.
"The new government will have to nurture a tentative economic recovery after six years of recession and deal with thousands of migrants from the Middle East streaming through (Croatia) on their way to western and northern Europe," Reuters said. BBC said that HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko "has suggested using troops and fences to reduce the number of arrivals."
Reuters and DPA said Bridge could play a crucial role in the formation of the new coalition government.