Just read about your 'tag' side project on twitter and my opinion is not to shift focus entirely to a multiplayer only version but instead to use what you have learned making that to further improve the original game and maybe add multiplayer later if you are so inclined.
I also noted the beach animations and that looks fantastic ... could do a 'male swimwear challenge' sort of thing with that map and those shorts even if it would be difficult to pull of with the player characters physique (maybe some breast bindings - occupying the bra slot - could make something like that easier).
I also have another clothing suggestion:
Bell clothing
Can be worn on the character neck (like a cat collar).
Can be worn on the characters wrists.
Can be worn on the characters ankles.
Increases the nose made by the character in proportion to how fast they are moving.
Crawling adds minimal extra noise, up from silent).
Walking adds some extra noise, up from minimal.
Running adds notably more noise, up from some.
Keeping in theme with the stealth elements of the game, making to much noise can attract NPCs - more so if they have been alerted to something unusual previously & I could see the alert level of the NPCs being the following:
Calm - default state, nothing has attracted attention.
Starts at this state and patrols as normal.
Minimal detection ability.
Attentive - Something has attracted attention but nothing was found
Replaces calm state as the base state if something changed it.
Moves a little faster and has increased detection ability but otherwise the same as calm.
Suspicions - Something has attracted attention and they are searching nearby.
Calm transitions to this state the first time something abnormal if noticed.
Moves somewhat faster, examines the source of the detection (notes the object and approximate location to prevent a detection loop).
After examining the source of detection moves in a random pattern, occasionally stopping but after a fairly brief period of time reverts to an attentive state if nothing else is found.
Has an increased detection ability compared to attentive and calm.
Alert - Character has been spotted and/or found something else while suspicious.
Notable changes from suspicious state is an extended search time and notably detection but functions the same otherwise.
Given the player character is doing this at night I would think it would take say 3 to 6 seconds depending on difficulty to detect the character instead of an instant detection.
Example triggers:
Item of clothing is found in an unusual location (hiding the clothing is certain areas like bushes and trash piles prevents it from being spotted) like on a pathway or stairs.
An unusual sound is heard (like the bell clothing suggested here but might be able to use sounds to distract NPCs by calling out or knocking on something to attract attention metal gear solid style)
Player character is spotted inappropriately dressed (something like a skirt and skirt would be fine but a towel would not ... through could maybe have it per location like a towel at the beach or pool would be fine but not so much in a suburban street)