Universal is the tenth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 2 September 1996 by Virgin Records.

It was generally well received by music critics, although the British media's overall resistance to OMD – who had been rendered unfashionable by the prevalence of grunge and indie rock – prompted McCluskey to dissolve the group.

"[11] Debbi Voller of Q described the record as "more ethereal than electronic", adding, "Lyrically, this is a collection of songs about lost youth, doomed love and broken dreams – and yet the music is wonderfully uplifting... McCluskey is still a master of melody.

"[13] NME's Simon Williams noted that Universal finds McCluskey "in reassuringly romping mode", the music "crispy clear, serenely syrupy, occasionally spiritual, frequently lovelorn, cosmically old-fashioned and extremely expensive-sounding".

[8] In The Rough Guide to Rock (1999), co-author Dave Castle noted "a return to the more comfortable floaty moods of OMD's heyday, with melody and atmosphere triumphing over raw electronica.

"[17] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine was unenthused, observing "only a fraction of the sophisticated craft that made... predecessor Liberator enjoyable, and none of the adventurous spirit of [OMD's] '80s records.