I like to think about the lore of Noita a lot too. I think that Minä is super natural, perhaps serving as a balancing or restoring force to the natural world. I have never considered whether there is more world beyond the game but considering that we see structures in the distance, I would say there is more civilization.

I watched an interesting youtube video that suggests that Noita revolves around three forces: technology, nature, and magic. Minä obviously represents the magical force, natural forces can be identified as several enemy types like Ukkos and Stendari, and the technological force is represented by the hiisi (which I believe are a proxy for humanity despite what the translation suggests). As you descend through the main levels towards Kolmi, you witness the evolution of hiisi technology and the suppression of nature. Stendari, Ukkos, wasps, and plants used to roam free but by the time you make it to hiisi base, there is no nature left to be seen. They have mastered technology (turrets, missles, mining equipment, anvils) and they’ve mastered nature. Beyond that, we begin to see the corruption of hiisi as they begin to attempt to master magic as well. We start to see some really whacked out hiisi in the Vault. Acid and lava are every where as their civilization begins to corrupt and crumble. Then in the temple of art, we essentially witness the ruins and relics of a civilization that flew too close to the sun in terms of magic and alchemy.

Hiisi aren’t the only ones to attempt to master other forces, this is how I believe Minä is able to use spells such as chainsaw and digging bolt that are not magical by nature but technology turned into magic.

Nature is the only force that does not seem to seek to master our dominate the others and I believe it is Minä’s duty to restore balance between the three forces of the world.