A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for transition state-based cryptography in an application including at least one state having a state key associated with it. A request for access is sent to a server utilizing a network upon reaching a state in the application. The request includes a state key associated with the state. A reply is received from the server in response to the request. The reply includes an access key for providing the access if the state key is valid. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for transition state-based cryptography in an application including at least one state having a state key associated with it. A request for access is received from a client to a server utilizing a network. The state key is verified at the server. A reply is sent from the server in response to the request. The reply includes an access key for providing the access if the state key is verified. In one aspect of the present invention, the request for access is for a subsequent state in the application.