Hello,
If your cat is having trouble chewing hard food, I would definitely give her soft food and make an appointment for her to have an exam including an evaluation of her teeth. We want her to continue eating, but we need to find out why she is making this preference. I suspect it may be because her teeth hurt. Cats can have various reasons for oral pain including diseased teeth or gums as well as mouth lesions.
I am not sure why she is licking the dirt or laying in her litterbox. Odd behaviors in cats can many times be associated with pain or discomfort. I think after a thorough physical exam, your vet will have a better idea if there is anything else going on.
Good luck with her and please let me know if you have any further questions.
I would stick with the name brands, maybe the same as the dry that you feed. There is nothing wrong with adding some (non-greasy) broth to her dry food to moisten if you would like that better. Our hospital cat eats Fancy Feast or Iams, but I really don't have a preference. The fancy feast does have a fair amount of gravy for her to lap up.
(I did not see your "already tried" before I answered.)
Veterinarian
Practicing Veterinarian with over 20 years experience caring for Dogs and Cats