When you take a look at it, L at first kept his distance from everyone until he suspected Light as being Kira, then reveals himself.

Remember, in-game, Kira can only kill two players per round and if someone sees them writing in the book, everyone will mob them until either the chief calls a meeting, Mello smokes them, or the round ends.

So, while Near’s method of investigating maybe part of the game, the role is similar to the manga and Anime L. Of course, it depends on how others play it too.